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A study by Bettina Schulz Paulsson, a prehistoric archaeologist at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden claims that the megalith building culture (which built about 35,000 structures) originated in NW France (Brittany) and spread along the coasts (to areas of France, Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranian) and across seas (to Britan, Ireland and Scandinavia), indicating maritime abilities.
This is based upon 2,410 radiocarbon dates of megaliths and their surroundings.
These structures were thought to have started with building earthen gracve strutures around 5,000 BC, folowed by the first stone megaliths around 4,800 to 4,000 BC (both in France).
These designs were subsequently elaborated upon as their construction spread along maritime routes.
Alternative theories were:
PNAS article
Two popular articles (with nice pictures) about this:
NY Times
Science magazine news article
This is based upon 2,410 radiocarbon dates of megaliths and their surroundings.
These structures were thought to have started with building earthen gracve strutures around 5,000 BC, folowed by the first stone megaliths around 4,800 to 4,000 BC (both in France).
These designs were subsequently elaborated upon as their construction spread along maritime routes.
Alternative theories were:
- a mid-east origin
- independent origins in different areas
“Everyone told me, ‘You’re crazy, it can’t be done,’” says Schulz Paulsson, a prehistoric archaeologist at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and the study’s sole author. “But I decided to do it anyway.”
Over the past decade, she said, she had dragged her family with her on research trips.
Of course, she acknowledged, much of that travel was along the Atlantic coast of France and to the various Mediterranean coastal sites.
“It’s not the worst,” she said.
PNAS article
Two popular articles (with nice pictures) about this:
NY Times
Science magazine news article