What are dolmens and menhirs? Cromlechs are ancient structures. Why were cromlechs built? The most famous cromlechs. In different parts of the world

Megalithic structures appeared and spread widely during the Bronze Age. Megaliths include the following structures:

• menhirs;
• dolmens;
• alinemans;
• cromlechs;
• covered walkways;
• and other buildings made of large stone blocks and slabs.

Megalithic structures can be found in every corner of the globe: in the Caucasus, Crimea, Western and Northern Europe(England, France, Denmark, Holland), in India, Iran, on Balkan Peninsula, V North Africa and other countries.

Figure 1. Megalithic structures. Author24 - online exchange of student works

History of the appearance of megalithic structures and types

Appearance various types megalithic structures are often associated with cults of veneration of ancestors, the sun or fire, and totems. Large-scale work on processing and moving stone blocks was carried out using huge amount people under a primitive community of labor organization. The most common monuments of this type are dolmens.

Definition 1

Dolmens are burial structures that consist of several slabs arranged vertically and covered with a horizontal slab.

The weight of the slabs reached several tens of tons. Initially, dolmens reached a length of two meters, their height did not exceed 150 centimeters. However, over time, their size became larger; the approach to them was arranged in the form of a stone gallery. The length of such galleries could reach 20 meters. Another view megalithic structures are menhirs.

Definition 2

Menhirs are vertically installed stone pillars that have a rounded cross-section, a height of up to 20 meters, and a weight of about 300 tons.

Menhirs are located near dolmens, so there is an assumption that funeral rites connect them. Menhirs can often be found in small groups that are arranged in parallel rows. It happens that the length of such rows reaches 30 kilometers.

An example is Carnac in Brittany, where the number of menhirs reaches 3000. It is believed that each menhir is a monument to a deceased person.

Note 1

Menhirs did not arise out of vital necessity, when a person needed to build a home or warehouses. The creation of menhirs was based on an idea that is not related to the struggle for existence. But, despite this, considerable efforts were made to extract, deliver and hoist these blocks, which reached impressive sizes and considerable weight.

The fact of such a rapid spread of this type of megalithic structure indicates that menhirs were a kind of expression of ideas that were the same for the people of that era, regardless of their actual location.

It is no coincidence that these stones were enormous in size and weight. If we take into account their historical relationship with subsequent structures that had architectural features, then a menhir is a funerary monument or monument that is similar in its memorial column, but a dolmen is a crypt, tomb or sarcophagus. The cromlech at Stonehenge is already a kind of temple, albeit a very primitive one.

Definition 3

Cromlechs are large groups of menhirs that are arranged in closed circles. Sometimes circles consist of several rows of vertically placed stones.

An example of a complex megalithic structure is Stonehenge. This is a circle with a diameter of 30 meters, which consists of vertically placed stones. From above they are covered with horizontal slabs. In the middle of the structure there are two rings of low stones, and between them there is a third ring of tall blocks arranged in pairs. In the center is a single stone, which is believed to be an altar. Stonehenge is a famous megalithic structure that already has architectural elements such as center, rhythm, and symmetry.

In this type one can see a structure in which the technical task found not only certain type solutions, but also received an aesthetic embodiment, which indicates the architect’s mastery of a sense of rhythm, space, form, scale and proportions. Other megaliths do not possess such qualities, since according to all the above characteristics, they are all closer to amorphous natural creatures than to the work of human hands.

Despite this, the cromlech located in Stonehenge also cannot be called an architectural structure. It is too massive in relation to the horizontals, its verticals are too heavy. Technical appearance in in this case dominates him artistic composition. Exactly the same as in all other structures that preceded the formation of the cromlech:

• dugouts;
• semi-dugouts;
• huts;
• above-ground adobe structures that had a utilitarian purpose.

The artistic form arose only when the utilitarian form reached perfection. It was also at the final stage of the Bronze Age, when crafts and the artistic industry actively emerged.

A huge number of megalithic structures have been collected in the Caucasus. Stone alleys, which in Armenia were called the stone army, became widespread here. There are also stone images of fish, which were the personification of the deity of fertility.

Magical architecture of megalithic structures

The origins of architecture date back to the late Neolithic. At that time, stone was already used to create monumental structures. All megaliths of antiquity can be divided into two large groups:

• Ancients architectural structures prehistoric societies: cromlechs, menhirs, dolmens, temples of Malta. Almost unprocessed stones were used to build such structures. Cultures that used such structures are called megalithic. This culture also includes labyrinths made of small stones, as well as individual stone blocks with petroglyphs. Dolmens can also be classified as megalithic architecture. Korean nobility and the tombs of Japanese emperors.
• Megalithic structures of more developed architecture. These are structures made of large stone blocks that have a regular geometric shape. Such megalithic architecture is characteristic of early powers, which were not built in later times. This includes monuments of the Mediterranean: megalithic structures of the Mycenaean civilization, pyramids in Egypt, the temple mount located in Jerusalem.

The most beautiful megalithic structures in the world

Gobekli Tepe, Türkiye. The complex is located on the Armenian Highlands. This megalithic structure is considered the oldest in the world. According to historical data, it was formed in the 10th–9th millennium BC. People at that time were engaged in gathering and hunting. The shape of this megalithic temple resembles circles, of which there are more than 20 pieces. According to experts, this architectural complex was deliberately covered with sand. Its height reached 15 meters, and its diameter was 300 meters.

Megaliths in Carnac (Brittany) France. Many megalithic structures were represented as ceremonial centers in which cults for the burial of the dead were carried out. This includes the megalith complex in Carnac (Brittany), which is located in France. It contains about 3000 stones. The megaliths reached a height of 4 meters, they were arranged in the form of an alley, the rows ran parallel to each other. This architectural complex can be dated back to the 5th–4th millennium BC. There were legends that Merlin ordered the ranks of Roman legionnaires to be turned to stone.

Figure 8. Megaliths at Carnac (Brittany), France. Author24 - online exchange of student works

Nabta Observatory, Nubia, which is located in the Sahara. Some megalithic structures were previously used to determine astronomical events (equinox and solstices). At that time, a megalithic structure was found in the Nubian desert in the Nabta Playa area, which was used for astronomical purposes. Thanks to the special arrangement of megaliths, it was possible to determine the day summer solstice. Archaeologists believe that people then lived seasonally, only when there was water in the lake. That's why they needed a calendar.

Stonehenge, UK, Salisbury. Stonehenge is a megalithic structure, which is presented in the form of 82 columns, 30 stone blocks and five huge trilithons. The weight of the columns reaches 5 tons, stone blocks - 25 tons, and huge stones weigh 50 tons. The stacked blocks form arches that previously pointed to the cardinal directions. According to scientists, this structure was erected in 3100 BC. The ancient monolith was not only lunar and solar calendar, but was also an exact copy solar system in cross section.

Figure 9. Stonehenge, UK, Salisbury. Author24 - online exchange of student works

By comparing the mathematical parameters of the geometric figures of the cromlech, it was possible to establish that they all reflect the parameters of the various planets of the solar system, and also model the orbits of their rotation. What is surprising is that Stonehenge is a representation of the 12 planets of the solar system, although today it is believed that there are only 9. Astronomers have long believed that there are two more planets beyond the outer orbit of Pluto, and the asteroid belt is the remains of a previously existing 12th planets. How could the ancient builders of the cromlech know about this?

There is another interesting version about the purpose of Stonehenge. During the excavation of the path along which ritual processions were carried out, in once again confirm the hypothesis that the cromlech was built along the relief ice age. This place was special: natural landscape was located along the solstice axis, connecting heaven and earth.

Cromlech Broughgar or Sun Temple, Orkney. Initially, this structure had 60 elements, but today only 27 rocks have survived. The place where the cromlech is located is ritual. It is “stuffed” with various mounds and burials. All the monuments here are united into a single architectural complex, which is preserved by UNESCO. Today, archaeological excavations are being carried out on the islands.

Temples of Ggantija in Šara. It is located in the central part of the island of Gozo and is one of the world's most important attractions. The megalithic structure is presented in the form of two separate temples, each of which has a concave façade. In front of the entrance there is a platform made of stone blocks. Most ancient temple The architectural complex consists of several semicircular rooms arranged in the shape of a trefoil.

Figure 10. Ggantija Temples in Šara. Author24 - online exchange of student works

Scientists believe that such a trinity is a symbol of the past, present and future. According to historians, temple complex- This is a sanctuary for worshipers of the goddess of fertility. However, there is a version that the Ggantija temple is a tomb, because the population of the megalithic era followed traditions. They revered their ancestors and erected tombs, and later these places became sanctuaries where they worshiped the gods.

Anatoly Ivanov

Dolmens, menhirs, cromlechs...

Anyone who is interested in archeology or simply everything ancient and mysterious has definitely come across these strange terms. These are the names of a wide variety of ancient stone structures scattered throughout the world and shrouded in an aura of mystery. A menhir is usually a free-standing stone with traces of processing, sometimes oriented in some way or marking a certain direction. Cromlech is a circle standing stones, varying degrees of preservation and with different orientations. The term henge has the same meaning. A dolmen is something like a stone house. They are all united by the name “megaliths,” which simply translates as “big stones.” This class also includes long stone rows, including those in the form of labyrinths, trilithons - structures of three stones forming something like the letter “P”, and the so-called sacrificial stones - irregularly shaped boulders with cup-shaped recesses.

Such archaeological sites are very widespread, literally everywhere: from the British Isles and our Solovki - to Africa and Australia, from French Brittany - to Korea. Modern science dates their origins, in most cases, to the 4th–6th millennia BC. This is the so-called Neolithic era, the end of the Stone Age - the beginning of the Bronze Age. The purpose of the structures is to perform religious rituals or create an astronomical observatory or a calendar in stone. Or all of this together. They were built mainly by primitive communal tribes engaged in hunting, fishing and primitive agriculture– for worship of the dead, sacrifices and adjustments

calendar This is the point of view of official science today.

It's not that simple

It is no secret that the official position of science raises many questions. The first question arises when trying to recreate construction technology. It often turns out to be so labor-intensive that it baffles modern man. Indeed, in many cases, the weight of individual elements of the structure was 5–10 tons, and the place from which the rock was mined was located at a distance of tens or even hundreds of kilometers - and this despite the fact that suitable material could be mined much closer. Transporting stone blocks over rough terrain, without roads or cars, is a very difficult task. What if these are also mountains, as is the case with the Caucasian dolmens?

A separate issue is the high-precision and sophisticated processing of monolith surfaces and the subsequent installation of blocks. How could this be achieved, especially in the conditions of a “brutal struggle for survival”?

Neither the linking of certain megaliths to astronomical events, nor the idea of ​​a stone calendar fits with the image of a “man with a stone axe.” After all, both of these imply careful observation of nature, comparison and generalization of data that could sometimes only be accumulated over hundreds of years... In relation to primitive calendars, the term “magical” is often used. Supposed rituals are also associated with magic. But what does this word mean now? Rituals, superstitions? Even the very name “megalithic culture,” which we often use, reflects our confusion rather than our understanding: after all, literally it is simply “the culture of large stones.” Questions, questions, questions...

Where to look for answers?

What do we really know about that era, which is far from us in all respects? Where to look for the keys to it? May be, common features When working with stone, do they talk about the existence of some kind of proto-culture or prehistoric civilization uniting literally the entire globe? Is this not evidenced by the similarity of some mythological stories Polynesia, the Caucasus, Britain - places so distant from each other? They contain the motif of a person’s connection with a mysterious and more ancient magical people of powerful dwarfs who are capable of any work - how can one not remember the fairy-tale gnomes. Have different nations There are many similar legends that describe construction using shouts, songs, and whistles. Some other myths (which are shrouded, for example, in the creation of the great Stonehenge) speak of the work of ancient giants.

But what about the dating of these various structures? In most cases, it is based on radiocarbon dating of nearby organic remains - for example, fires, burials or animal bones. But this is not the dating of the stone processing itself!

There are certain analogies of “megalithic culture” with later civilizations of the ancient world - Egypt, Mesoamerica. There, too, they masterfully handled huge stone blocks, bright that An example is the mystery of the construction of the Great Pyramid. Or they processed boulders in such a way that a simple wall became like a puzzle: in Sacsayhuaman, the stone looks as if cutting it was not difficult at all (as, indeed, was lifting it and installing it with great precision). Often there is a connection to special points on the horizon associated with the rising and setting of the Sun or Moon, stars or planets, points that reflect the characteristics of their movement across the celestial sphere.

The era of megaliths is believed to predate ancient civilizations. But both the dolmens of the Caucasus and Stonehenge look as if by the time of their construction a lot of experience had already been accumulated in creating such structures...

No need to go to Stonehenge

Who, having learned about the mysterious Stonehenge, did not have a desire to go there and “touch it with your own hands” - as if attracted by some invisible magnet! But, by the way, many monuments of megalithic culture are literally right next door. These are Caucasian dolmens and a complex of stone slabs on the Kulikovo field. “Cup” stones were found in Tverskaya, Yaroslavskaya, Kaluga regions. And even though all this has so far been very little studied and not so widely known, does this make it any less mysterious?

As if especially for lovers of antiquities, numerous (about three thousand!) dolmens are scattered in the mountain spurs along the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus - in the region of Tuapse, Sochi, Gelendzhik. Most of them are granite “houses” with a round hole. Interestingly, most often the hole is too narrow to climb into. Sometimes next to such a “house” you can find a kind of “plug” in the shape of a truncated cone that exactly fits the hole. Sometimes the “houses” are monolithic, but more often they are composite, made of stone slabs. They may have a kind of “portals” with a “canopy”. There are also dolmens of other shapes: instead of a manhole there is a protrusion in the shape of a hemisphere. Fragments of cromlechs have been preserved next to some dolmens: for example, the dolmen from the “Kozhokh group” is adjacent to an open, flattened circle of free-standing stones.

Individual dolmens, for example, the trough-shaped dolmen from the Mamedov Gorge (on the right bank of the Kuapse River), are processed in such a way that they indicate the point of sunrise over the ridge on the days of the equinoxes. Another feature of this particular dolmen is that in one direction it is shaped like a pyramid with a cut off top. The first rays of the Sun, running along the edge of the pyramid, fell into the middle of the dolmen's ceiling when the Sun completely rose above its flat top...

IN middle lane About five thousand stone blocks with traces of processing have been found in Russia. Most often they take the form of lying stone slabs with bowl-shaped recesses, sometimes with a drain, sometimes with several cylindrical recesses or holes. Until recently, it was impossible to say with certainty that there were menhirs or standing stones on the territory of Central Russia. But discoveries recent years, in particular, a standing stone near the village of Beloozero, not far from the Kimovsk-Epifan highway, makes it possible to talk about the existence of such monuments. The Belozersky menhir can hardly be called an “astronomical instrument” - it has not yet been possible to establish its orientation with the necessary accuracy, although it is possible that it once pointed in the direction of sunrise on the day of the winter solstice. But another similar monument - the Monastyrschinskaya standing slab - can be called as such with good reason. It is located in the Rybiy ravine, not far from the village of Monastyrshchina near the confluence of the Nepryadva and the Don. The plate has a triangular shape. The northern face of the plate is quite flat and even, it is oriented along the east-west axis, that is, it indicates the sunrise on the days of the equinoxes.

The discoveries continue!

Who knows what expedition will discover new traces of ancient cultures, who knows who will be able to stretch new connecting threads between seemingly impossible related facts! Who knows how many more mysteries our land holds, how many mysteries the ancient stones keep! After all, many discoveries - just in central Russia - have been made over the past few years. And in the Caucasus, more and more dolmens continue to be found and described... For those in whom the spirit of adventure and knowledge lives, the world around will never seem boring and gray. For those who are truly searching, there will always be enough mystery and the unknown.

The original article is on the website of the magazine "New Acropolis": www.newacropolis.ru

for the magazine "Man Without Borders"

Menhirs Dolmens Cromlechs - the words themselves reek of something stone and very old. Accompanying us to the Breton town of Lokmariaquer, our friends said:

The town, of course, is small, but you won’t be bored - there are only dolmens and menhirs around. There will be something to do.

Indeed, literally at every step, as soon as we left the city (and it ended before it even began), we discovered huge stones: some stood like pillars, others were piled one on top of the other like giant tables, and still others were built into entire galleries . Legends have been formed about these stones for centuries, if not millennia, and, what is most amusing, they are still being formed, however, under the guise of unconfirmed supposedly scientific hypotheses.

Menhirs Dolmens Cromlechs - messages?

For a long time it was believed that all these structures (they are found in Western Europe, as well as in some places in the Caucasus) were erected by the Celts - a stern and warlike people. These stones supposedly served as temples under open air, and the Druids, the priests of the Celts, performed bloody sacrifices near them.

Well, many still think so, although it has been proven that the mysterious stones have been on the earth for more than three thousand years, and some are even older - archaeologists call the date 4800 BC. And many tribes, which we call Celts, appeared much later - in the middle of the first millennium BC. In addition, if we talk about those giant stones that are located in Great Britain and France, then, most likely, they were actually used by the Druids, who replaced the more ancient priests unknown to us; after all, these buildings were built as pagan temples, but a holy place is never empty, and each new religion uses it in its own way. But here’s the problem: in the Caucasus, for example, there were no traces of Druids, so where did such stones come from? However, in science fiction and non-popular science books you can find the most unexpected explanations for everything. For example, that the Druids are aliens sent to us or miraculously surviving inhabitants of Atlantis. If so, then anything is possible...

But real scientists courageously admit their own ignorance: we don’t know, they say, what the names of the peoples who built these structures were called, we don’t know. why and how these buildings were used. We can only establish their age and assume that they are somehow connected with cult activities. This is not as interesting as the hypotheses of romantic pseudoscientists. But. at least honestly.

In fact, no one even really knows what to correctly name these ancient monuments. Standing stones are usually called menhirs. Those that look like tables are dolmens. Stones arranged in a circle, like the English Stonehenge, with cromlechs. Any guidebook says that these words are Breton, the first means “long stone,” the second “table-stone,” and the third “rounded place.” This is true and not true. Yes, the word "menhir" came into French. and after him to all others from Breton. But in the Breton language there is no such word, and a standing stone is designated by a completely different word “pelvan” - “pillar stone”. How did this happen? The point is this: when scientists, and simply lovers of antiquities, first became interested in these outlandish structures (and this was back in early XIX century). they decided to ask the local population what these strange things were called. The local population in those days had difficulty expressing themselves in French.

So from the very beginning there were continuous misunderstandings and misunderstandings between the bearers of the local tradition and the researchers.

Further - more. Those “new legends” that romantic writers created in their works - about druids and singer-bards who drew their inspiration in the shadow of menhirs - have nothing in common with those legends that Breton peasants passed on from mouth to mouth. The peasants simply believed that these stones were magical. And how could it be otherwise, because at first they served the pagans, and when Christianity came to Brittany, the old stones did not disappear along with the old religion. The first priests were smart people and they understood that since the local residents were accustomed to worshiping idol stones for thousands of years, it was stupid, if not dangerous, to try to convince them overnight that this was a sin. And instead of fighting the pagan stones, the priests decided to “tame” them, as priests of other religions had done more than once. The springs, which were considered magical even in ancient times, became sacred. Most often, it was enough to carve a cross on the top of the menhir. Sometimes they didn’t even do this: just some ancient ceremony with a procession to the stone turned into a religious procession. And the wolves are fed, and the sheep are safe. And what people tell about strange stones in fairy tales and legends is natural.

The alley of dolmens, which is located in Verkhnyaya, not far from the town of Esse, called “fairy stones,” has always been surrounded by special reverence. They say that in order to build it, the famous Merlin, by the power of his magic, carried heavy stones from afar. Interestingly, archaeologists confirm with surprise: the multi-ton slabs that make up the alley actually traveled many kilometers before they were installed near Essa. But how did they do it? And who, and most importantly, why was it needed?

According to another legend, fairies built this stone alley. Each of them had to bring three huge stones at a time for construction - one in each hand and one on the head. And woe to that fairy who does not hold at least one stone. Having dropped it to the ground, she would no longer be able to pick it up and continue on her way - she had to return and start all over again.

They say that those who built this alley are not averse to joking with people even now. Many try to count how many stones are in the building, and everyone names their own number - some forty-two stones, some forty-three, and some forty-five. Even if the same person undertakes to count them several times, he will not succeed; each time the number of stones will be different. “Don’t joke with the devil’s power,” they said in the old days, “no one has ever been able to count these stones. You can’t outwit the devil.”

But the lovers believed that the fairies would help them choose their destiny. In the old days, young men and women came to the alley of ancient stones on the night of the new moon. The young man walked around them on the right, and the girl on the left. Coming full circle, they were dating. If both counted the same number of stones, then their union should have been happy. If one of them counted one or two stones more, then their fate was far from cloudless, but, in general, happy. Well, if the difference between the two numbers turned out to be too big, then, according to legend, it was better not to think about the wedding. However, even the fairies’ warnings did not stop the lovers.

There were also legends about menhirs. In the old days they believed that treasures were kept under standing stones. For example, under the menhir near the city of Fougeres. They said that every year on Christmas night a blackbird flies to the stone and lifts it up so that you can see the louis d'or lying on the ground. But if anyone wants to take advantage of this moment and snatch the money, the huge menhir will crush him with its weight.

And there are also menhirs, who on Christmas night, while mass is being celebrated in churches, themselves go to the stream to drink, and then return to their place. Woe to the one who finds himself on the road of a stone that rushes at great speed and can crush everything in its path. However, as legends say, there are those who like to take risks: after all, in the hole left by the absent menhir, there could easily be a treasure. If you manage to pick it up while the menhirs are at the watering hole, you will live the rest of your life comfortably. True, few managed to survive: the angry menhir usually chased the thief like an angry bull and crushed the poor fellow into a cake.

We, of course, were not going to look for treasures, especially since Christmas was still far away. It was just interesting to look at the stones that they talk and write about so much. First of all, we went to a small open-air museum, where for a modest fee you could see the largest menhir in Brittany - 20 meters long, weighing approximately 280 tons. True, the giant did not stand, as a decent menhir should, but lay on the ground, split into several parts. This most likely happened in ancient times, but no one knows why. Maybe the ancient builders were let down by gigantomania, and they simply could not install the miracle stone and dropped it. Perhaps the stone stood for some time, but then collapsed due to an earthquake. Locals they claim that it was broken by lightning. Who knows what really happened?

By the way, not all menhirs and dolmens are gigantic. Once upon a time, back in student years(I studied in the Breton city of Rennes), a funny incident happened to me. It was in the town of Pont-Labbe, where my friend and I were invited by a classmate, a native of this town. Among other attractions, he decided to show us a whole clearing of dolmens. We all piled into his old Ford and drove a distance that we could easily have covered on foot. Getting out of the car, I began to look around in bewilderment: where were the promised dolmens?

Yes, here they are, they told me. - look around.

And indeed, the clearing was dotted with dolmens. Small: the tallest one reached my knee. I involuntarily laughed, but my guide began to defend the dwarf dolmens, arguing that they are no less ancient than those multi-meter giants that they love to show tourists. I did not deny this, but still the clearing made a somewhat depressing impression on me, and not at all because of the size of the dolmens. I remembered Moscow forest parks after the May holidays: under the dolmens there were candy wrappers, cigarette butts and a countless number of empty bottles, indicating that non-ritual libations were regularly performed here.

Yes,” my guide sighed, “we don’t take care of dolmens and menhirs, they don’t take care of them... It’s nothing, it can be removed, but twenty or thirty years ago we saw enough films about your virgin lands and also began to unite small fields, destroy boundaries... Even menhirs turned up under the hot hand: imagine, a menhir stands in the middle of a field, seemingly not bothering anyone. Not included in the list of monuments due to short. Of course, you can carefully drive around it with a tractor every time, but this requires time, attention, and unnecessary waste of fuel. What about the savings? So they uprooted menhirs that scientists had never even heard of. No one knows how many of these stones have disappeared.

Large menhirs with dolmens are really lucky. They are heavily protected by the state. In Lokmariaker you can’t get close to them: they are fenced off with ropes, and dozens of visitors wander in crowds along the narrow paths, gawking left and right. Outside the city, however, there are underground galleries where you can freely climb. Near each there is a sign and a panel explaining the history of the monument in four languages: French, Breton, English and German.

The most beautiful gallery seemed to me to be in the town of Kerere, at Cape Kerpenhir, about two kilometers from Lokmariaker. We went there early in the morning to enjoy the beauty ancient monument, without clashing heads with their own kind. From the outside, the view is not so great: stone slabs on the top of a small hill, some kind of hole, at the entrance to which there is a small menhir - slightly taller than a man. We go down to the gallery. It smells of salt and dampness, no wonder, because the sea is very close. You have to walk on all fours: over several millennia, the huge slabs have managed to grow thoroughly into the ground. Although, most likely, the gallery’s vaults were not initially very high; people were much smaller: just remember the knightly armor in museums; not every thirteen-year-old boy will fit into it. What can we say about people five thousand years ago! To them, such galleries probably seemed high and spacious. Be that as it may, we, people of the twentieth century, have to protect our heads. IN full height You can straighten up only at the end of the gallery, in a small hall. And only if your height is not above average.

On a panel installed nearby, a plan of the gallery is drawn and two slabs are indicated on which mysterious drawings are carved. However, it is impossible to see them: darkness reigns in the gallery, and only occasionally a ray of sun breaks through the gap between the ceiling tiles. You have to feel your way through, which makes the gallery seem even more mysterious: it turns unexpectedly and ends just as unexpectedly. However, I managed to find the slabs with drawings. Moreover, we managed to photograph them with flash. And only when the photographs were ready, we were able to see the message left to us by the ancient artists.

It is unknown what the ornaments from the Kerere gallery mean, but one of them is very reminiscent of a traditional Breton embroidery motif. It must be assumed that from time immemorial local artisans repeated the ornament once seen by torchlight in the underground galleries. They tell amazing things: for example, on one of the dolmen slabs in Lokmariaker, half of some animal is depicted. The second half is located on the dolmen slab of the island of Gavriniz (which means “Goat Island” in Breton), located four kilometers from Lokmariaker. Scientists suggest that these are two parts of one, once split fourteen-meter stone stele, which was divided between two temples. It’s just unknown how it was possible to carry such a heavy weight across the sea all the way to the island of Gavriniz?

After pitch darkness, the summer sun is blinding. It feels like we have taken a journey into the darkness of centuries - in the literal sense of the word...

Anna Muradova

Dolmens, menhirs, cromlechs...

Anyone who is interested in archeology or simply everything ancient and mysterious has definitely come across these strange terms. These are the names of a wide variety of ancient stone structures scattered throughout the world and shrouded in an aura of mystery. A menhir is usually a free-standing stone with traces of processing, sometimes oriented in some way or marking a certain direction. A cromlech is a circle of standing stones, in varying degrees of preservation and with different orientations. The term henge has the same meaning. A dolmen is something like a stone house. They are all united by the name “megaliths,” which simply translates as “big stones.” This class also includes long stone rows, including those in the form of labyrinths, trilithons - structures of three stones forming something like the letter “P”, and the so-called sacrificial stones - irregularly shaped boulders with cup-shaped recesses.

Such archaeological sites are very widespread, literally everywhere: from the British Isles and our Solovki - to Africa and Australia, from French Brittany - to Korea. Modern science dates the time of their emergence, in most cases, to the 4th–6th millennia BC. e. This is the so-called Neolithic era, the end of the Stone Age - the beginning of the Bronze Age. The purpose of the structures is to perform religious rituals or create an astronomical observatory or a calendar in stone. Or all of this together. They were erected mainly by primitive communal tribes engaged in hunting, fishing and primitive agriculture - for worshiping the dead, making sacrifices and adjusting the calendar. This is the point of view of official science today.