Discoveries: Megaliths

by Jean-Pierre Mohen

Covering the best-known sites - Avebury, Stonehenge, Carnac and Knowth- and also less famous European examples, this well illustrated book considers the special significance -religious, cultural, architectural and scientific- of these enigmatic Neolithic stone structures, that over the centuries have never ceased to exert an atmosphere of magic and mystery.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0810928612
• ISBN13: 9780810928619
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Length: 175 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Who constructed them and why?

Everyone has heard of the famous site at Stonehenge,Newgrange B and Carnac;but there are literally thousands of these types of 'stone sites' scattered throughout Western Europe and the British Isles. It seems they were constructed ,probably by the Celts as long ago 4,000 years and even 6,or 7,000 years B.C. . Ancient history is generally thought to go back to 4,000 years B.C. These 'Stones of Memory' predate that by several milleniums into Antiquity. The more that is understood about them,the more we see that man was much more developed,knowledgeable and societies much more structured than often believed or imagined. This is a rather small book but packs a great deal in it.It tries to cover this subject and does it very well with an easily understood text and over 200 color photographs,many double page,drawings,maps,and black and white photographs and etchings from the earliest times when Archaeologists tried to determine who constructed them and to make some sense of their purpose. The book does not pretend to cover everything; but it is certainly a very ood summary for anyone who wants to learn more about the subject.The author is French;the book was translated from French and is definitely slanted to sites in France.This does not distract from its value,though. There is a good Glossary of terms which apply to the subject,a detailed list of locations of all photos. There is a fairly good list of books for further reading,though many are French.Other books for further reading should not be a problem; as they exist in the hundreds and probably the thousands. I have a book "The Modern Anntiquarian" by Julian Cope which is a wonderful book on over 300 sites.It includes over 600 photographs,explanations of each site. The author visited each site . Maps and illustrations are included so that they could be found and visited if desired. There are also over 50 poems included. It is a beautiful book and comes in a fine slipcase

Has an Incredible Amount of Information

To me, the graphics accompanying the text convey an incredible amount of information. I do not agree that this book doesn't include info about the religious background of these megaliths.If the book has a weakness it is that it focuses on the French sites. The author is a Frenchman and he favors what he knows the most about, I guess. I would say that half of the sites here are French. And there is no mention that I see of Baalbek or a stone circle discovered in the Golan Heights.