Astronomical observations.

megaliths.

We took a tour of Stonehenge and saw the megaliths.

Megaliths are large stones that have used before to build a structure or a monument.

Megaliths were often carved from solid stones and carried some distance. Sites like Stonehenge are made from these megaliths several thousand years ago.

Tools came first, as early humans began using rudimentary tools around 2.6 million years ago. Megaliths, on the other hand, started to appear around 9,000 to 4,000 years ago, marking a later stage of human development and societal organization.

out of rock

Henges

A stone called megaliths.

Megaliths such as the Stonehenge.

Stonehenge

Malta

They had stratification.

They had stratification.

A shift to agriculture

domesticating plants

A shift to agriculture

the domestication of plants

They had stratification.

Megaliths in Northern Europe suggest that prehistoric societies in the region had advanced construction and engineering capabilities, as well as a strong cultural and religious significance attached to these monuments. The presence of megaliths also indicates a long-standing human presence in the area with complex societal organization and belief systems.

They had economic specialization

they had economic specialization

Giant stones (e.g. the Stonehenge stones) from prehistoric times.

Large, old blocks of cut stone, such as those at Stonehenge.

they had economic specialization

Stonehenge

The reasons for erecting megaliths in the Neolithic era are not fully understood. However, some theories suggest that megaliths served as markers for burial grounds or religious and ceremonial purposes. They may have also been a symbol of social status or acted as communal gathering places. The specific cultural, spiritual, and social significance of megaliths likely varied among different Neolithic communities.

The exact reasons why people in the Neolithic era erected megaliths are not entirely clear. It is believed that megaliths had various functions, including serving as burial sites, markers of territories or religious and ceremonial spaces. They may have been chosen for their durability and strength, as well as their ability to convey a sense of awe and permanence. The cultural and symbolic significance of megaliths likely played a role in their selection as monuments.

a move away from hunting and gathering

Only civilizations with a food surplus built them.

They had stratification.

megaliths

The megaliths of Easter Island, known as Moai statues, are located on Easter Island, a remote island in the South Pacific Ocean. The statues are scattered across the island, with the majority located near the coast.

A shift away from hunting-gathering to fixed agriculture.

A shift away from hunting-gathering to fixed agriculture.

A shift away from hunting-gathering to fixed agriculture.

A shift away from hunting-gathering to fixed agriculture.

A shift away from hunting-gathering to fixed agriculture.

A shift away from hunting-gathering to fixed agriculture.

A shift away from hunting-gathering to fixed agriculture.

They had stratification.

megaliths were built in the neolithic revolution and people could focus on activities other than finding foods. Also because as population grew, groups of people gathered to perform religious ceremonies. This happened because early people learned how to become farmers.

Neolithic Era

People in the Neolithic era likely built megaliths for ceremonial or religious purposes, to mark important locations, or to honor their ancestors. The monumental scale and enduring nature of megaliths would have made them effective symbols of power, community unity, and societal values. They may have also served practical functions such as astronomical observation or as burial sites.

A shift away from hunting-gathering to fixed agriculture.

Stonehenge is in England, not Ireland. Ireland has many ancient sites of its own of great interest, such as Newgrange.

Megaliths, large stone structures, were built during the Neolithic era by societies as burial sites or for religious purposes. They reflect the social organization, technological advancement, and belief systems of the Neolithic people. These megalithic structures indicate a level of social complexity and shared cultural practices within Neolithic societies.

The domestication of agriculture led to settled societies with surplus food, allowing for the development of specialized labor and large-scale construction projects like megaliths. The increased resources and organizational capacity from agriculture enabled groups to coordinate the effort needed to quarry, move, and erect these massive stone structures.

because they wanted to make it a holy place of joy and happiness.

There are 11 Dolmans in or nearÊ Poitou-Charentes, France . You can find a list of addresses for these megaliths by searching for them in Google maps.