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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List of menhirs | 3/3 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_menhirs | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T07:52:37.730054+00:00 | kb-cron |
=== Spain === In Spain, menhirs associated with the western European megalithic industry are relatively unusual compared to dolmens, but still are common sights in the northern half of the country, where at least 500 menhirs have been reported. They are particularly common in the Basque Country, Navarre, northern Burgos and Palencia, Cantabria, and the Pyrenees, where they are usually encountered standing alone or in small groups (cromlech) in elevated locations; the Arlobi menhir is one of the most recent examples of a menhir. In smaller numbers, but of great dimensions, some examples are located in Extremadura, very related to the menhirs of Portugal. Most of the menhirs in northern Spain appear to date back to the stone age; they are not usually associated with burials, but in at least one instance (the Menhir of Cuesta del Molino in Burgos) burials dating at least 2000 years after the menhir was originally built have been found. In mediterranean Spain and, particularly the Balearic islands, megalithic structures consisting of standing stones such as the Taulas, but associated with Bronze Age and Iron Age cultures, are also common.
=== Sweden === In Sweden menhirs were erected as markers for the graves of warriors until the 13th century. The following lines are taken from Snorri Sturluson's introduction to his work Heimskringla:
In the same work Snorri writes that the Swedes burned the corpse of their king Vanlade and raised a stone over his ashes by the River Skyt, one of the tributaries of the River Fyris:
The tradition is also mentioned in the Hávamál.
=== Switzerland === In the French-speaking canton of Vaud in Switzerland, several menhirs form linear patterns in Yverdon-les-Bains. These are situated in Clendy and date back to the third millennium BC.
=== Wales ===
In Welsh, menhirs are called 'Maen Hir' and they are scattered throughout Wales.
== South America == Menhirs were erected by the U'wa people of Colombia in their ancestral territory. They believe that the menhirs are the ancients of the U'wa clans who were turned into the stone piers of the world. Menhirs can be found in Chita and Chiscas, Boyacá. There are 114 menhirs in the Provincial Park Los Menhires in Argentina. They were erected by the Tafí people, an indigenous culture of Tucumán province, and were used in fertility rites.
== See also == List of dolmens List of individual rocks
== Notes ==
== References == Le Roux, C. T. 1992. "The Art of Gavrinis Presented in its Armorican Context and in Comparison with Ireland." in Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland vol. 122, pp 79–108. Mohen, Jean-Pierre (2000) [1998]. Standing Stones: Stonehenge, Carnac and the World of Megaliths. ‘New Horizons’ series. Translated by Baker, Dorie B.; Baker, David J. London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-30090-9.
== External links ==
Dolmens, Menhirs & Stones-Circles in the South of France – Menhirs of the "Cham des Bondons" New Theory – Henges – Engineering in Prehistory Rows of menhirs in Russia, South Ural List of menhirs and their related stories in Czech Republic Ancient Europe Placemarks Google Earth file downloads. Skela menhirs in Ukraine (in Ukrainian)