Megaliths

Abstract

Often associated with the monumental structures of the European Neolithic, megalithic structures are in fact found on almost all the continents of the globe. Far from being an exception, Africa is home to a vast diversity of monuments built with these blocks of up to several tonnes in weight. They can be both included within structures or erected around them, in the form of standing stones. In Africa, megalithic structures have been documented since the sixth millennium bce roughly until the contemporary period. They are recorded from North Africa to Madagascar, and from the Atlantic shores of West Africa to the Sahara and the Horn of Africa. Therefore, they correspond to very diverse cultural contexts and a wide range of uses. In addition to the funerary function often observed, megalithic monuments may also have a commemorative role or stand as territorial markers. African megaliths can be apprehended through different sources, whether they refer to past or present societies. In fact, unlike other regions of the world, modern and contemporary megalithic traditions are attested in Africa. Archaeology thus finds a possibility to broaden its perspectives by initiating a dialogue with ethnographic data.