AFRICA, MALTA, ETC. 



Cyrenaica, which appears to consist of a single 

 straight line of tall uprights with a continuous 

 entablature of blocks similar to that of the outer 

 circle at Stonehenge. 



Algeria has been far more completely explored, 

 and possesses a remarkable number of megalithic 

 monuments. Many of the finest are situated near 

 the town of Constantine. Thus at Bou Nouara 

 there is a hill about a mile in length which is a 

 regular necropolis of dolmen-tombs. Each grave 

 consists of a dolmen within a circle of stones. 

 The blocks are all natural and completely un- 

 worked. The circle consists of a wall of stone 

 blocks so built as to neutralize the slope of the 

 hill and to form a level platform for the dolmen. 

 Thus on the lower side there are three courses of 

 carefully laid stones rising to about five feet, 

 while on the upper side there is only one course. 

 The diameter of the circles varies from 22 to 33 

 feet. In the centre of the circle lies the dolmen 

 with its single long cover-slab. This usually 

 rests on two entire side-slabs, the ends being filled 

 up either with entire slabs or with masonry of 

 small stones. In rare cases the side-slabs are 

 replaced by masonry walls. The average size of 

 the cover- slab is 6| by 5 feet. The dolmen itself 

 is, of course, built directly on to the platform, 

 and the space between it and the circle is filled 

 up with rough stones. The orientation of the 

 dolmens varied considerably, but the cover-slab 



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