Menhir

Large menhir located between Millstreet and Ballinagree, County Cork, Ireland
Cwm Rhaeadr Fawr maen hir (menhir) near Aber Falls, Gwynedd, Wales
Dry Tree menhir – a standing stone at Goonhilly Downs Cornwall

A menhir (/ˈmɛnhɪər/;[1] from Brittonic languages: maen or men, "stone" and hir or hîr, "long"[2]), standing stone, orthostat, or lith is a large upright stone, emplaced in the ground by humans, typically dating from the European middle Bronze Age. They can be found individually as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Menhirs' size can vary considerably, but they often taper toward the top.

Menhirs are found across Europe, Africa, and Asia, with a concentration in Western Europe, notably in Ireland, Great Britain, and Brittany. Theories concerning their purpose remain speculative, with hypotheses ranging from druidic rituals to territorial markers or elements of an ideological system. Some menhirs feature engravings, including anthropomorphic figures and symbols, and are often associated with ancient religious ceremonies and burial chambers.

  1. ^ "menhir". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/OED/8737336948. Retrieved 25 September 2023. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  2. ^ Anon. "Menhir". The Free Dictionary. Farlex, Inc. Retrieved 15 December 2010.