Dolmen is defined as what?

Study for the Briar Jones Architecture Appreciation Exam 2. Use our quiz to practice multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready to ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Dolmen is defined as what?

Explanation:
Dolmen is a type of megalithic tomb defined by vertical uprights supporting a heavy horizontal capstone, forming a table-like chamber. This simple structural idea—stones standing upright to bear a single large stone on top—creates a burial space and is a hallmark of late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age megalithic sites in Western Europe. The term even captures that sense of a “table stone” resting on legs. That’s why it fits the description best, distinguishing it from a tall standing stone (a menhir), a stone circle without a capstone, or a temple column with base.

Dolmen is a type of megalithic tomb defined by vertical uprights supporting a heavy horizontal capstone, forming a table-like chamber. This simple structural idea—stones standing upright to bear a single large stone on top—creates a burial space and is a hallmark of late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age megalithic sites in Western Europe. The term even captures that sense of a “table stone” resting on legs. That’s why it fits the description best, distinguishing it from a tall standing stone (a menhir), a stone circle without a capstone, or a temple column with base.

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