WHO WERE THE BUILDERS? 



much more than this. It is the use of great stones 

 in certain definite and particular ways. We have 

 already examined what may be called the style of 

 megalithic architecture and found that the same 

 features are noticeable in all countries where these 

 buildings occur. In each case we see a type of 

 construction based on the use of large orthostatic 

 slabs, sometimes surmounted by courses of hori- 

 zontal masonry, with either a roof of horizontal 

 slabs or a corbelled vault. Associated with this 

 we frequently find the hewing of underground 

 chambers in the rock. In almost all countries 

 where megalithic structures occur certain fixed 

 types prevail ; the dolmen is the most general of 

 these, and it is clear that many of the other forms 

 are simply developments of this. The occurrence 

 of structures with a hole in one of the walls and 

 of blocks with ' cup-markings ' is usual over the 

 whole of the megalithic area. There are even more 

 remarkable resemblances in detail between struc- 

 tures in widely separated countries. Thus the 

 Giants' Tombs of Sardinia all have a concave 

 facade which forms a kind of semicircular court 

 in front of the entrance to the tomb. This feature 

 is seen also in the temples of Malta, in the tomb 

 of Los Millares in Spain, in the naus of the Balearic 

 Isles (where, however, the curve is slight), in 

 the Giant's Grave of Annaclochmullin and the 

 chambered cairn of Newbliss in Ireland, in the 

 tomb of Cashtal-yn-Ard in the Isle of Man, in the 



