Dolmenology: a Glossary of Terminology Used to Study Dolmens

By K. Schath and H. Al-jarrah

This Glossary provides terminology thought to be helpful in describing dolmens and their subtle complex and artistic design. Detailed descriptions help define their Types and possibly variations that are significant to their use. Describing their location and place in the megalithic landscape may help to determine the culture and rituals that played out in the megalithic landscape.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Oct 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728394800

K. Schath

Dr. Kennett Schath has worked on dolmens since 2009, when he first supervised the survey of the Matabi, Aw-Rawdah, Hisbon, El-Quttein, and Adiemeh dolmen fields. He has worked nearly exclusively on dolmens and megalithic phenomena since 2012. testing theory with the Department of Antiquities and being a vocal advocate of dolmen conservation. He has spent more than sixty weeks in the field and countless hours researching his and others’ documentation. As codirector with Perugia University, Italy, he located a field showing separation of discrete dolmen fields and indicating organized sedentary settlements. Codirecting with Yarmouk University, Jordan, he confirmed the presence of several village in dolmen groups. He is codirector of Al-Araqa Heritage Development projects. Hussein Al-jarrah was district director for the Department of Antiquities for fifteen years. He surveyed Damiya 2005 and Matabi 2007 and 2009 dolmen fields, and he worked in countless dolmen fields consulting with his co-author. He worked with many noted archaeologists in the field surveying and studying dolmens as a representative of the Department of Antiquities, Jordan. He pushed forward the theory of passages as valuable architectural components for evaluating dolmens. His work with dolmens has spanned twenty-five years, and he has a total of twenty-five years in archaeology. He is codirector of Al-Araqa Heritage Development operations.

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© 2019 K. Schath and H. Al-jarrah. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-7283-9481-7 (sc)

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Published by AuthorHouse 11/15/2019

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Illustrations

Photographs

Introduction

Dolmen Typology

Other Related Structures

Dolmen-Specific Terminology

Bones in Dolmens

Dolmens in the Greater Megalithic Landscape

Associated Terms for Dolmens

Selected Bibliography

DOLMENOLOGY: A Glossary of Terminology Used to Study Dolmens

K. Schath and H. Al-jarrah

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, we wish to acknowledge our God, who put us in a position to do the things we have done. We also acknowledge our families, who have been there for us through times of hardship. Thanks to the Department of Antiquities-Jordan, for their continual support, and a special thanks to the universities that have supported this project.

—Ken Schath and Hussein Al-jarrah

ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Type A Dolmen from M. Zohar, simplified by Schath

2. Type A and B Dolmens, simplified by Schath

3. Type B Dolmen from M. Zohar, simplified by Schath

4. Type C Dolmen from M. Zohar, simplified by Schath

5. Type C and D Dolmens, simplified by Schath

6. Type D Dolmen from M. Zohar, simplified by Schath

7. Type E Dolmen from M. Zohar, simplified by Schath

8. Type E and F Dolmens, simplified by Schath

9. Type F Dolmen from M. Zohar, simplified by Schath

10. Demi-Dolmen, simplified by Schath

11. Type G and H, simplified by Schath

12. Portal and Cella

13. Chamber Tomb/Kist

14. Tumulus

15. Balancing Stone

16. Blocking Stone

17. Casting Mound

18. Chamber

19. Coffer

20. Column/Pillar

21. Curb

22. Divider

23. Dolmen Wall

24. End Stone

25. Floor

26. Subfloor

27. Passage

28. Patio

29. Platform

30. Porthole

31. Ramp

32. Retaining Wall

33. Side Stone

34. Steps

35. Terrace

36. Threshold

37. Top Stone

38. Window

39. Artistic Design

40. Sealed Off/Sealed

PHOTOGRAPHS

Note: All the photographs were taken during work on teams that I supervised are owned and used freely by all participants.

Thanks to M. Luddeni, who worked with us from 2007–2013. All of his photos were shared, and he continues to share them freely.

D. Galacini worked on special projects I supervised. He was very creative, and he supported the work in an artistic manner.

M. Pignattini worked as the photographer of the Juffain Project 2016 with Perugia University as a master’s student.

H. Debajah worked with the Juffain Project 2017 with Yarmouk University. He produced some great photographs of scenes around the Juffain Dolmen Field and destruction as seen through his eyes.

INTRODUCTION

Dolmens have gained attention and have been written about extensively by archaeologists for the past 175 years. No expansive glossary can be found with the terminology corresponding specifically to dolmens themselves. (Jean-Pierre Mohen did compile a glossary,¹ but it neglected to address the dolmens in specific detail.) Since this glossary of terminology is directly related to dolmens in the Near East, terminology used outside the Near East may not be included or applicable. An example is the use of the term barrow, which is not a structure architecturally evident in the Near East region. In the future, this glossary