A GEOMORPHOLOGY OF lVIEGALITHS: NEOLITHIC LANDSCAPES IN THE ALTO ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL
نویسنده
چکیده
The Alentejo region of Portugal is known for a high concentration of Neolithic-aged megalithic monuments: tombs (dolmens or antas) and ceremonial features such as standing stones (menhirs) and stone circles (cromleques). Concelltrations of these monuments tend to be found on or near weathered granite terrains. Unloading slabs and remnant corestones appear to be the stones of preference for megalith makers in the Alentejo district of Portugal. Some of the stones may have been imported from distant sources, but most appear to be of local origin. In general, most stones do not appear to have been altered much from their original state as field stones. Weathering tests demonstrate that menhirs are essentially identical to native corestOlles. Manv menhirs still exhibit a soil line. The former subaerial side of the stone usually retains a thick growth of lichen, while the soil side remains oxidized. Newly exposed, antas and menhirs now suffer from enhanced weathering and erosion from atmospheric and biological agents. This deterioration is often difficult to discern from the inherited decomposition ofpre-megalithic time. INTRODUCTION derived from megalithic sites is often overlooked. Megaliths reflect an association between geomorphology and available resources. The monuments at Stonehenge, Avebury. Furthermore, as early examples of quarried stone, and Carnac are perhaps the best known examples of megaliths afford an opportunity to assess how rock "megaliths", great stone monuments constructed adjusts to the atmospheric and biotic environment. during the Neolithic ("New Stone Age") and Geomorphologists. archaeologists, and stone Calcolithic (transition to copper metallurgy) periods conservators are just now realizing the wealth of in western Europe. Though not necessarily as notable information that may be obtained by studying the as the famous English and French examples, deterioration of these ancient monuments (Delgado thousands of megaliths may be found across Atlantic Rodrigues, 1994; Silva et a!. 1994; Romao and and Mediterranean Europe. Portions of the western Rattazzi, 1995; Sellier, 1997) Iberian peninsula are dense with megalithic sites Using information on geomorphology and (Figure 1). The Alentejo region of southeast the weathering characteristics of the stones, one can Portugal, among the most notable for Iberian see that Alentejan megalith stones have not been megaliths, provides the focus for this paper. imported from long distances, and appear to be of Megaliths provide useful information for a local origin, taken from weathered granitic outcrops. period of human prehistory that otherwise contains Post-megalithic weathering impacts (over -6000 relatively limited archaeological evidence (Sherratt, years) appear to override millions of years of 1990). Along with artifacts and human remains inherited weathering accumulated on the rock prior to associated with the sites, megaliths provide insight into the culture's technological and scientific advancement, funerary practices, and resource use. The geoarchaeological information that can be
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