THE DOLMENS OF ASIA 



large flat slab resting on two others. On the upper 

 surface of the top slab are often seen a number of 

 basin-shaped holes, sometimes connected by fur- 

 rows. Many of the slabs are slightly slanting, 

 and it has been suggested that the series of holes 

 and furrows was intended for the pouring a 

 libation of some kind. In a monument of this 

 type at Amman the cover-slab slopes considerably ; 

 the upper part of its surface is a network of small 

 channels converging on a hole n inches deep 

 about the centre of the slab. Here, again, no 

 excavations have been carried out, and we do 

 not even know what was the purpose of these 

 structures. It is, however, probable that these 

 trilithons were not, like the dolmens, tombs, but 

 served some religious purpose, possibly connected 

 with the worship of the menhirs. 



In the Jaulan, where the rock consists of a 

 slabby type of basalt, there are many dolmens 

 of fine appearance. They often lie east and west, 

 and are often broader at the west end. Many are 

 surrounded by a double circle of stones. In one 

 of them two copper rings were found. At Ain 

 Dakkar more than 160 dolmen-tombs are visible 

 from a single spot. They are built on circular 

 terraces of earth and stones about 3 feet high. 

 The Arabs call them Graves of the Children of 

 Israel. Most of them lie east and west, and are 

 broader at the west. In the eastern slab there is 

 often a hole about 2 feet in diameter. Near Tsil 



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