British megalith architecture is thestudy of thoseancient cultures that builtmegalithic sites on theBritish Isles, including the research and documentation of these sites. The classification sometimes used of these cultures based on geological criteria is problematic.
TheNeolithic sites of Britain are amongst the most varied in the prehistory of Europe. Although (geologically) different from "megalithic" sites, theearthen long barrows in East England are grouped with them from a cultural historical perspective. TheMedway tombs and the Derbyshire chamber tombs (Five Wells) occupy a special position as examples of megalithic sites in East England. The north–south boundary between earthen sites and stone sites in England and Scotland is crossed at three points to the east by the seven different types of megalith site types (in the so-called mixed regions).
The activities of megalithic cultures in the region dates back toprehistoric times. There are many parallels between the prehistoric architecture ofIreland and the now British regions ofCornwall (including theIsles of Scilly), theIsle of Man,Wales andScotland; but there are somewhat greater differences between those and the sites inEngland and, particularly, theChannel Islands. Although almost all regions haveendemic megalith types, but they also usually have unique examples (e.g. thechamber tomb of Glyn) as well as forms that they share with one or two neighbouring regions.
Exemplary in this respect are the "cruciform passage" sites of theMaes Howe type inOrkney (in Ireland e.g.Knowth andNewgrange), whose distribution extends as far as the Scilly Isles andDevonshire in England. In addition to the great wealth of variety in Scotland, favoured by its geography, there are also sites on the Scottish islands with individual characteristics.
Neolithic monuments are an expression of the culture and ideology of Neolithic societies. Their origin and function are considered characteristic of social development.[1]
Well dated monuments, such asStreet House in NorthYorkshire andHazleton North inGloucestershire, indicate that the primary period of use, during which there were continual burials, perhaps lasted only two or three centuries. The small number of burials found in theWest Kennet Long Barrow inWiltshire seems to confirm this.
On the other hand, the Middle Neolithic pottery in the trenches of long barrows and the late dates of the hearths (Herde) on the forecourts of megalithic sites such asMonamore on theIsle of Arran, indicate that the interest of the communities in these monuments was maintained for centuries after the last burial. The construction ofcenotaphs likeTulach an t'Sionnaich inCaithness leads to the same conclusion.
Primarily in southern England, burial sites were deliberately closed. The time when this occurred is often uncertain. The chamber of theWest Kennet Long Barrow seems to have been used for many centuries, but was eventually filled about 2400 B.C. Blocked access is often found in atria, indicating an end to the chamber's use, but the frequent presence of more than one layer indicates that these decisions were not final, making it difficult to determine the exact time when the tomb was finally abandoned. Particularly in Scotland (up to Shetland - Pettigarth's Field), there are a number of multi-period systems (English multi-period building), whereby round mounds had long barrows subsequently built over them (Grey Cairns of Camster) andheel-shaped cairns).
It is not clear whether any new monuments were erected after about 3000 B.C. in southern England, although rituals continued to be held in the old ones. In the northwest, the old tradition probably lasted longer. The conversion of a classicpassage tomb into ahenge monument, as inBryn Celli Ddu onAnglesey, shows that the religious focus was maintained in traditional construction, even if new sites were already being built. Such evidence, however, is not to be found everywhere. The advent of the Late Neolithic individual graves is connected with the appearance of theBell-Beaker culture and signs of a new attitude in society. In many areas the old ideas end abruptly.