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[1]
FORUM

[2]Catalunya - Part 2

[3][new00000.gif] 
[4]Photos from Dartmoor

[5]What are megaliths?    ...   [6]Timetable    ...  _Photo
G_[7]allery    ...  [8]German [9]  section 

I am glad to present some of the most fascinating pictures of European
[10]megalithic monuments. Contrary to the common meaning, there are
many megaliths outside of the classical megalithic countries such as
UK and France. Youll find more than 400 photos of megaliths from many
countries in the various sections of the _Photo G_[11]allery. Also, I
would like to thank [12]all the people_ _who gave me feedback and
material - both photos and descriptions of less well-known megaliths.
Without their contributions these pages would never have come into
existence. Please visit the [13]Forum (NEW!) that contains e-mails on
sites, questions, opinions or statements adressed to Megalithic Pages.

_ The Groove Mystery _

The two upper photos on the right side of this column show the
beautiful menhirs of Machrie Moor in Arran, Scottland. Standing on the
slope of the moor basin, they were illuminated by almost divine summer
light at the time I approached them. The top parts of both menhirs are
noticably grooved. The vertical marks are pretty deep at the top of
the stone and either disappear after several feet or, as seen on the
second photo, continue almost the entire height of the stone.

After moving from Freiburg to Saarbrücken I visited the famous German
menhir Gollenstein nearby and was very surprised to observe the same
marks (see the third picture). The marks look like traces made by a
rope moving up and down over the top of the stone. Are the grooves
remnants of some ritual act? Are they carved by the megalitic people?
Ive heard about criminals in the Middle Ages being bound on the
stones. Could rope used for such purpose carve such deep grooves?

Another explanation of the phenomenon is simple: the stones are about
five thousand years old and exposed to much rainfall. It is possible
that through the ages the water carved grooves running vertically down
the megalith. The only problem with this explanation is that it rains
everywhere but you cant find many stones looking like these megaliths.

The other two menhirs in Germany showing the similar structure are the
Martinshöhe-Menhir and the Spellenstein, both standing in the
Saarland. (See the German section at
[14]www.lessing4.de/megalithen ) for details).

Until now, I know of only one other site with grooved megaliths: once
again in GB, the three Devils Arrows in Yorkshire are grooved in
exactly the same way as the German megaliths.

The interesting thing is that there is no similar structure among the
several dozen menhirs I have visited in France, Portugal, Spain and in
other parts of GB and Germany. Thus the question - why do only the
menhirs at these three locations show the phenomenon?

This may be an argument for the erosion theory: The water running down
can create these marks only in some materials (The German menhirs are
of yellow (Gollenstein) and red sandstone (Martinshöhe)) which is
found regionally. Unfortunately, I dont know of which type of stone
the Machrie Moors menhirs and the Devils Arrows are made. Maybe
someone can tell me...

On the other side, I have never observed similar grooves in natural
sandstone surfaces, nor in other sandstone menhirs in the region.
Particulary round boulders with larger top surfaces should show the
grooves because of the quantity of the water running down the stone.

Thus - the mystery remains. But we are used to mysteries when dealing
with megaliths...(and dont we love them!)

Sincerely ..... yours Jan Bily

_The Megalithic Column will be continued..._

Machrie Moor, Isle of Arran, Scottland

Another menhir of the Machrie Moor site in Arran.

The top of almost 7 meter high Gollenstein near Saarbrücken, Germany.

The Devils Arrows in Yorkshire, England.

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[15]Click to visit the Stone Circle shop for lots more products
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Mac format. 270 Hi-res images and maps available for personal use

All photos and texts ©1996 - 2000 by Jan Bily, excepting those
particulary noted.
With many thanks to Martina Hensler for translating and revising most
of the pages.

Top 50 Archäologie

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