Ann's Musings

Great attention has been paid to the variety of magnificent megalithic structures around the world. Yet very little is reported on the mysterious and impressive set of stone structures that can be found in the Ural Mountains of Russia. These megaliths are numerous and take on many different forms, including dolmens, menhirs, and a large megalithic cultic complex on Vera Island. While the structure and location of the hundreds of megalithic structures have been assessed in the detail, little is known about the origin of these megaliths and the culture that constructed them.

In 2014, a groundbreaking excavation of a prehistoric temple complex on the Scottish island of Orkney revealed that the Neolithic inhabitants of the island were far more advanced than initially realised. As well as a large collection of ancient artifacts that reflect a complex and culturally-rich society, archaeologists also discovered that the three major monumental structures on the island – the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stennes, and the Maes Howe tomb – were “inextricably linked in some grand theme”.