Question

Write a short note on Megaliths.

Answer 1

Hint: A megalith is a large stone which existed in prehistoric art and is used in the creation of Chalcolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age. It was a very important tool for the early nomads and the Stone Age was an important age.

Complete answer: Megaliths can be found all over the Indian subcontinent, and most of these stones are found in the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Archaeologists have found around 2,200 megalithic sites, most of which are unexcavated. The oldest megaliths in India are found in the Western region of the country.
While megalith is denoted to call a single stone but it can be used to denote more rocks, it also can be used to denote one or more rocks. It is used to describe structures built by people from many parts of the world living in different periods.
Types and definitions:
1.Menhirt is the name used in Western Europe for a single upright stone erected in prehistoric times sometimes called a standing stone.
2.Monolith-Any single standing stone erected in prehistoric times. The word monolith is also used to describe a single stone.
3.Capstone style-Single megaliths were kept in horizontal positions, over burial chambers, without the use of support stones.
The most popular type of megalithic structure is the portal tomb-commonly called the dolmen. Examples of megalithic architecture include the Taula, a straight upright stone coupled with another to form a T shape and the Trilithon consisting of two parallel stones which are coupled with a horizontal stone.

Note: These Megaliths stones were used for many reasons like demarcating the boundaries of the territory for reminding occasions of the past and also being an important part of the society.