Global Prehistory Vocab

Prehistoric

relating to or denoting the period before written records

Monolith

a large single upright block of stone, especially one shaped into or serving as a pillar or monument

Cromlech

a megalithic tomb with a large flat stone laid on upright ones, found chiefly in Britain and France

Megalith

a large stone that forms a prehistoric monument (e.g. a standing stone) or part of one (e.g. a stone circle)

Dolmen

a megalithic tomb with a large flat stone laid on upright ones, found chiefly in Britain and France

Trilithon

a megalithic structure consisting of two upright stones and a third across the top as a lintel

Post-and-Lintel

a building system where strong horizontal elements are held up by strong vertical elements with large spaces between them

Stele

an upright stone slab or column typically bearing a commemorative inscription or relief design, often serving as a gravestone

Anthropomorphic

described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes