Dolmen

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Dolmen ( Danish Dysse ) near Vinstrup, Nørhald, Denmark
Dolmen de la Pierre Levée , near Saint-Fort-sur-le-Né , France
Dolmen in winter, painting by Georg Emil Libert

A dolmen (from Cornish tolmen 'stone table' ) is usually a megalithic tomb built from large, uncut or hewn stone blocks . It consists of three or more upright supporting stones (orthostats) on which one or more cover plates rest. Dolmens are traditionally addressed as the simplest form of a megalithic tomb. In Europe, dolmens were mostly originally covered by mounds of stone or earth.

Naming, typology

Dolmen de la Frébouchère , Vendée
Dolmen near Reinfeld , Schleswig-Holstein

The term "dolmen" was introduced into antiquity by the Frenchman Théophile Malo Corret de la Tour d'Auvergne (1743–1800), who was born in Brittany . In Scandinavian megalithic architecture , dolmen refers to a megalith with several orthostats (supporting stones) and one or more cover plates. In some countries, the name is limited to structures with only one capstone. Oscar Montelius made a distinction between dolmens, passage graves and stone boxes . This terminology is still predominant in Scandinavia. The Danes differ barrows ( Danish Langdysse ) Runddolmen (Danish. Runddysse ), great dolmen (Danish. Stordysse ) and passage grave (Danish. Jættestue ). Langdolmen (long dysse or long dose ) is the name commonly used in Scandinavia for dolmen lying in a barren bed ; In contrast, round dolms are in a round or polygonal edging. In Denmark dolmens are called dysse or stendysse , in Sweden döse and in Portugal anta . In France, " dolmen " is the generic term for all megalithic collective graves .

The funnel cup culture dolmens in Germany are divided according to Sprockhoff and Ewald Schuldt into Urdolmen , Rectangular Dolmen (according to Ekkehard Aner ), Extended Dolmen (according to E. Schuldt), Large Dolmen , Polygonal Poles and passage graves. The name Schuldt coined is more recent and was chosen because dolmens of this type can also be bottle-shaped or trapezoidal.

Some structures, which are typologically not attributed to the dolmens, still have the popular name “dolmen”, which was often used for all kinds of large stone graves and thus could also become part of the official name of a ground monument.

architecture

Most dolmens consist of large erect stones, so-called orthostats, on which large capstones rest, which are usually larger and heavier than the orthostats. The capstones often protrude laterally over the orthostats and sometimes give the building the appearance of a table. Because of their table-like shape, dolmens were previously interpreted as sacrificial tables , altar stones or druid altars . The bearing stones are usually close to one another and form rectangular, polygonal, trapezoidal or round-oval chambers. Buildings to be dated later often consist of numerous smaller stones instead of monolithic orthostats. When they were discovered, many dolmens were covered by a mound of earth that made access impossible (see Access to Megalithic Complexes for further discussion). When they were exposed, only a few dolmens were found to be closed.

Today dolmens often only consist of free-standing large stones, as the smaller stones were removed by the residents of the area in earlier times and used to build walls, stables, houses and the like. The megaliths rarely protrude from a mound built around them, or they are completely covered with a mound of stone or earth, which corresponds to their original state

Replica of a long dolmen in the open-air museum Skånes Djurpark in Sweden

Other types of megalithic tombs

In many cases, a large stone grave has several chambers - also on the sides (e.g. Mané Groh). Chambers with lateral access are called passage graves in Central Europe , although the delimitation to other types is not uniform.

In many cases, the supporting stones of larger monuments are so close together that the table-like character disappears and a chamber-like space is created. In Brittany and in the south of France, many plants resemble a corridor; Déchelette called this form allée couverte , in Germany they are called gallery graves .

ornamentation

While most menhirs and cromlechs were undecorated, some dolmens (especially in the area of ​​the Gulf of Morbihan ) are richly ornamented ( Gavrinis , Les Pierres-Plates , Mané Lud ). Typical motifs are spirals, concentric semicircles, which were interpreted as abstract sun symbols , but stone axes , ax plows ( French Hache-charrue ) etc. can also be seen here and there. The decor of the main stone of the Table des Marchand in Locmariaquer with a multitude of hook-like motifs ( báculos ), which were interpreted as rays of the sun or ears of wheat, is particularly striking and unusual .

use

If the soil allows bone to be preserved, body burials can usually be found in the dolmens. Individual cremations are also known from Brittany. According to Ebert (Reallexikon), dolmens are mostly family graves, while members of a larger group are buried in the passage graves. In addition to being used as a grave, it was also suggested that the dolmens served as ossuaries . However, complete individual burials were found in the Danish dolmens of Ølstykke , Kellerød and Frellesvig

distribution

Europe

Dolmen are common throughout western and parts of northern, central, southern, southwest and southeastern Europe, with an increased occurrence near the coast to be observed ( Vendée , Brittany , Ireland , Wales as Antas in Portugal and others).

In Scandinavia, the construction of small dolmens began in the funnel cup culture at the end of the early Neolithic (3500-3300 BC). The majority of the dolmens, now also larger ones, were built in the early Middle Neolithic (3300-3000 BC).

In southeastern and eastern Europe, dolmens occur in southern Russia and Thrace (Bulgaria, northeastern Greece, European Turkey, see dolmens in Thrace ).

Dolmen on the Djebel Gorra , Tunisia

North africa

The largest number of North African dolmens can be found in northern Tunisia, especially in a necropolis on the Djebel Gorra or near Ellès . However, many megalithic orthostats and capstones have broken because of the limestone material prevalent in the region . The lack of a corridor leading to the burial chamber is characteristic of the groups; In addition, many capstones do not rest on monolithic orthostats , but on smaller stones placed one on top of the other. In northern Morocco and Algeria there are also some mostly badly damaged specimens.

Asia

In Western Asia, dolmens can be found in the Levant and the Caucasus.

Dolmen in the Caucasus

There are numerous dolmens in the Western Caucasus ( southern Russia , Georgia , Abkhazia ). Characteristic are the perfect craftsmanship and the regular arrangement of the stones (mostly 4 bearing stones and 1 ceiling stone). The two lateral orthostats often protrude slightly over the locking stone (usually with a soul hole ), which leads to a noticeable entrance situation, which in some cases is emphasized by swell stones. Since not a single mound of earth (tumulus) was found, it is highly probable - also in view of the smoothing of the stones on all sides - that the dolmens, about the age of which no reliable information is available, were always free.

India

“Dolmen” near Marayoor , India

Especially in the south of India ( Karnataka , Andhra Pradesh , Kerala and Tamil Nadu ) there are numerous large stone monuments that are regularly referred to as "dolmens"; they often consist of three or four vertical stone slabs and one or two large cover slabs, many of which, however, have been completely or partially destroyed. In view of the fact that corpses have been cremated in India for thousands of years, it is unlikely that they were grave structures. A front locking stone with a “ soul hole ” is often missing, as is a covering stone or mound; so it could also have been small hermit shelters or temples, because in a few cases a yoni plate can still be seen on the floor. A dating to the post-Christian period is therefore likely.

Japan and Korea

This article or the following section is not adequately provided with supporting documents ( e.g. individual evidence ). Information without sufficient evidence could be removed soon. Please help Wikipedia by researching the information and including good evidence.
Ganghwado Dolmen (Korea)

There are dolmens from the Yayoi period of Japan (300 BC to 250 AD). A Yayoi dolmen consists of a ring-shaped stone setting on which a large, roughly round stone slab rests. The burial took place in large clay jugs ( jug burial ). Such a dolmen can be connected to a stone box . This combination is found more often in Korea . It is believed that new ideas came to the Japanese islands through immigrants from mainland Asia.

The dolmens of Gochang , Hwasun and Ganghwa in Korea were in 2000 as Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites in the list of UNESCO World Heritage (Asia and Oceania) was added. Overall, the number of Korean dolmens is estimated at around 30,000 to 35,000.

Pseudo- or paradolms

Paradolmen d'en Garcia

Pseudodolmen are natural rock formations that have a dolmen-like appearance. Because they were often mistakenly regarded as dolmens in earlier times, they often have the word dolmen in their names. Well-known pseudodolmen are:

Sometimes pseudo- or paradolms were used regularly.

The paradolm widespread in Catalonia is a megalithic complex, which consists mainly of boulders or rock formations that form a natural cavity (e.g. an abri ) that was transformed into a burial chamber by artificial addition and used as such. The room was closed by wall or ceiling material and occasionally an entrance was added. The design is typical here for the period between 2500 and 2200 BC. ( Paradolmen de Ses Rates , Paradolmen d'en Garcia , Paradolmen de Sinyols, Paradolmen de la Vinya, Paradolmen del Ca del Duc II, Paradolmen dels escalons d'en Poet I and II, Paradolmen de Tafania, Paradolmen de la Pallera, Paradolmen de Pedra sobre altra).

In France, systems such as the one found in 1978 by La Chaise in Malesherbes are known as “paramegalithics”. A double and a single grave were found here in an elongated stone packing, which could belong to the tradition of the non-megalithic long mounds. The facilities built at the same time as the megalithic facilities dispense with the use of large stones, presumably for reasons of resources. PR Giot refers to the investments as Dérive (derivatives). There are also individual dolmens or paradolms in neighboring Liguria and Lombardy in Italy (Monticello, Roccavignale, Tanarda - Gravellona).

See also

literature

  • Jacques Briard : The Megaliths of Brittany. Éditions Gisserot, 2000, ISBN 2-87747-065-2 .
  • Wolfgang Korn : Megalithic Cultures. Enigmatic monuments of the Stone Age. Konrad Theiss, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-8062-1553-7 .
  • Salvatore Piccolo , Ancient Stones: the Prehistoric Dolmens of Sicily. Brazen Head Publishing, Thornham / Norfolk (UK) 2013, ISBN 978-0-9565106-2-4 .
  • Dieter Werkmüller : Dolmen. In: Albrecht Cordes , Heiner Lück , Dieter Werkmüller, Ruth Schmidt-Wiegand (eds.): Concise dictionary on German legal history . Volume 1: Aachen - Spiritual Bank . 2nd, completely revised and enlarged edition. Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin 2008, ISBN 978-3-503-07912-4 , Sp. 1097-1099.
  • Udo Worschech : Cromlechs, dolmens and menhirs. Comparative studies of prehistoric and early historical burial sites in Jordan. Peter Lang, Frankfurt am Main 2002, ISBN 3-631-38770-9 .
  • Lluis Esteva Cruañas, Josep Tarrús Galter, Esteban Fa Tolsanes: Sepulcro paradolménico de "Pedra sobre altra" (Tossa de Mar, Girona) .- Cypsela IV (Serveid'Investigacions Arqueològiques, Conservació i Catalogació de Monuments de / Diputació 1988) , Pp. 53-59
  • Pedro Pascual Mireia: Prospecció dels jaciments paradolmènics de Catalunya (nordest peninsular): Comarca de la Selva.- Memòries d'Intervenció Arqueològica4490 (Servei d'Arqueologia i Paleontologia), Barcelona 2002, p. 48 p
  • Pedro Pascual Mireia: Prospecció dels jaciments paradolmènics de Catalunya (nordest peninsular): Comarca del Baix Empordà.- Memòries d'IntervencióArqueològica 4491 (Servei d'Arqueologia i Paleontologia), Barcelona, ​​2002 p. 115

Web links

Commons : Dolmen  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Dolmen  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ James Stevens Curl: A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Oxford, Oxford University Press 2006, 2nd edition. ISBN 0-19-280630-0 .
  2. ^ Keyword megalithic grave, §1. In: Max Ebert (Ed.): Reallexikon der Prehistory Vol. 8, Berlin, Walter de Gruyter 1924–1928, 77
  3. ↑ Vicki Cummings: Dolmen In: Encyclopædia Britannica. accessed January 3, 2012. (English)
  4. ^ Oscar Montelius: Dolmens en France et en Suède. Le Mans 1907.
  5. ↑ Urs Schwegler, Chronology and Regionality of Neolithic Collective Graves in Europe and Switzerland . Hochwald Librum 2016, 265. ISBN 978-3-9524542-0-6
  6. ^ Karl-Göran Sjögren, Mortuary Practices, Bodies, and Persons in Northern Europe. In: Chris Fowler, Jan Harding, Daniela Hofmann (Eds.): The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe . Oxford, Oxford University Press 2015. 10.1093 / oxfordhb / 9780199545841.013.017, page 4 of the online edition
  7. ↑ Keyword Megalithic Grave, §9. In: Max Ebert (Ed.): Reallexikon der Prehistory Vol. 8, Berlin, Walter de Gruyter 1924–1928, 80
  8. ↑ Michael Shanks, Chris Tilley, 1982. Ideology, symbolic power and ritual communication: a reinterpretation of Neolithic mortuary practices. In: Ian Hodder (Ed.): Symbolic and structural archeology . Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 129-154.
  9. ^ Karl-Göran Sjögren, Mortuary Practices, Bodies, and Persons in Northern Europe. In: Chris Fowler, Jan Harding, Daniela Hofmann (Eds.): The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe . Oxford, Oxford University Press 2015. 10.1093 / oxfordhb / 9780199545841.013.017, page 4 of the online edition
  10. ^ Karl-Göran Sjögren, Mortuary Practices, Bodies, and Persons in Northern Europe. In: Chris Fowler, Jan Harding, Daniela Hofmann (Eds.): The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe . Oxford, Oxford University Press 2015. 10.1093 / oxfordhb / 9780199545841.013.017, 1007
  11. ^ Karl-Göran Sjögren, Mortuary Practices, Bodies, and Persons in Northern Europe. In: Chris Fowler, Jan Harding, Daniela Hofmann (Eds.): The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe . Oxford, Oxford University Press 2015. 10.1093 / oxfordhb / 9780199545841.013.017, page 4 of the online edition
  12. ↑ https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/ah8MlN3mwHQjIpmBZBhcXJ/Exploring-Indias-megalithic-culture-a-riddle-set-in-stone.html Dolmen in South India
  13. ↑ The term "pseudo-dolmen" stands for the description of formations in the form of dolmens, which z. B. be found in Sicily . The terminology was introduced by Sebastiano Tusa, head of archeology in Sicily.
  14. ↑ [1] "One of the special construction techniques is the inclusion of already existing natural rocks, the so-called" sepulcres paradolmenics "or paradolms. The" Hemidolmen de Betlem "[semi-dolmen] near Fals (Fonollosa, Bages) consists of two or two supports . three smaller stones, which is seldom seen. This vaguely reminds of several North African dolmens that were built without monolithic orthostats, that is, the supports consist of flat stones laid on top of one another "
  15. ↑ Marcel Baudouin: Le pseudo-dolmen de May-en-Multien (S.-et-M.). Comment on diagnostique un Mégalithe funéraire. In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique de France. 5/2, 1908, pp. 102-107.
  16. ↑ http://www.raco.cat/index.php/Cypsela/article/viewFile/119155/236694