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MEGALITHS / STANDING STONES

10,000 /2,000 BC.

The Megalith is a free standing stone, i.e. stands on its own or stands as part of a Megalithic site. It can be called a MONOLITH, MENHIR, or GALLÁN. Examples of these can be found in Kerry, Clare, Limerick etc.

Like the CAIRN , the Menhir had a number of uses. They were ERECTED not alone during NEOLITHIC times, but also down through the centuries, but in slightly different forms. Their original purpose was to mark for example, a burial place, to mark a boundary, and in many instances were used as SIGHTINGS. Many MOUNDS, ( NEOLITHIC ), and STONE CIRCLES, ( late NEOLITHIC/EARLY BRONZE age ), have Megaliths or STONE ALIGNMENTS associated with them, and it is now CERTAIN that these combined structures are ALIGNED with either the SUN/MOON, or certain STARS, which were and are important to their and our calendar. ( see NEW GRANGE ). The Standing Stone's illustrated here ( Archaeology Ireland Magazine), is as you can see ALIGNED to the mountain in the distance. Also notice that its top mimics the outline of the top of the mountain, so that at certain times of the year, either LUNAR ( MOON ), or with certain stars , so that a certain DATE / TIME of YEAR could be set, ( e.g. Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter ), i.e. a CALENDAR. These Time, was and is of extreme importance to any farmer for both sowing ,planting ,and harvesting crops. Also remember that these CYCLES, MOON /SUN / STARS or CONSTELLATIONS, are fairly consistent and can for the most part be relied upon to REPEAT, on a YEARLY basis. Murrisk, ( from arch. Ireland ), is just one of three standing stones, at the foot of a mountain. They are ALIGNED / SIGHTED at the top of the nearby mountain. Again note that the top of this stone is roughly similar in outline to that of the top of the mountain.

DERRYHEAGH, ( arch. Ire. ) shows that each STANDING Stone was either chosen because its top was naturally shaped to that of its intended SIGHTING, OR that it was SHAPED to MIMIC it.

The Standing Stone's are related to the STONE CIRCLES in that their purpose was similar i.e. ALIGNMENTS / SIGHTINGS.

Brittany:- Erdeven Allignment ( the Morbihan region ), similar to Carnac in that it consists of many Rows of Megaliths or Standing Stones all Alligned East / West. The above illustrates just a part of this Megalithic site.

Carnac:- This 4.5 Km. ( present day ) series of 9 / 10 rows of 3,000 Alligned Megaliths in an East / West orientation is probably the greatest concentration of Standing stones in Europe, and is now designated a Wourld Heritage Site. The above is just a part of the first series from Le Menec, the other groupings are called Kermar and Kerlescan. The entire Allignment finishes with La Trinité which consists of a grouping of 3 of the largest Megaliths of the site. A small Dolmen was erected next to the Kermar grouping, and a Mound / Cairn can also be viewed to the south of the Kerlescan allignments. For some reason the standing stones which make up the Carnac site start withe Large Standing stones which get progressively smaller then get larger towards Kerlescan and again smaller near La Trinité almost like a Wave like Pattern?.