Prehistoric megalithic structure originally forming a burial chamber, covered with a mound of earth or stones. The chamber consisted of stones buried vertically into the ground and a large, usually flat capstone, which was laid on top and served as a ceiling. Currently, most of the burial chambers are deprived of an external earth and stone cover, which have disappeared, as a result of scattering or intentional dismantling to obtain building materials. Dolmens are characteristic of the European Neolithic. The earliest formed around 7,000 years ago, most around 4000-3000 BC. The word dolmen is of Celtic origin (daul – table, maen – stone), although originated many centuries before the arrival of the Celts.
