Cromlech

A cromlech

Chambered cairn (cromlech) Dyffryn Ardudwy, Gwynedd, Wales

Cromlech is a Brythonic word (Breton/Welsh) used to describe prehistoric megalithic structures, where crom means "bent" and llech means "flagstone". The term is now virtually obsolete in archaeology, but remains in use as a colloquial term for two different types of megalithic monument.

In English it usually refers to dolmens, the remains of prehistoric stone chamber tombs. However, it is widely used in French and Spanish to describe stone circles. Confusingly, some English-speaking archaeologists, such as Aubrey Burl, use this second meaning for cromlech in English too.

In addition, the term is occasionally used to describe more complex examples of megalithic architecture, such as the Almendres Cromlech in Portugal.

See also

• Crom Dubh

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This article relating to archaeology in Europe is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Burial monuments and structures Megalithic monuments Welsh loanwords Breton language United Kingdom archaeology stubs European archaeology stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат The Donnas Primrose Day Look at other dictionaries: Crómlech — de Stonehenge, Inglaterra …   Wikipedia Español Cromlech — de Swinside, Lake District, Angleterre …   Wikipédia en Français cromlech — [ krɔmlɛk ] n. m. • 1785; mot gallois et bret. « pierre courbe », par l angl. ♦ Archéol. Monument mégalithique composé de menhirs disposés en cercle ou en ellipse. ● cromlech nom masculin (anglais cromlech, du gallois crom, rond, et llech,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle Cromlech — Darkthrone Дата выпуска декабрь 1989 Записан ноябрь 1989 Жанр дэт метал Длительность 14:53 …   Википедия crómlech — ‘Monumento megalítico formado por grandes piedras dispuestas en círculo o semicírculo’: «El crómlech es un círculo de piedras asociado con el culto al Sol» (CSerraller Arte [Esp. 1997]). Esta voz de origen bretón o galés, introducida en español a …   Diccionario panhispánico de dudas Cromlech — Crom lech (kr[o^]m l[e^]k), n. [W. cromlech; crom bending or bent, concave + llech a flat stone; akin to Ir. cromleac.] (Arch[ae]ol.) A monument of rough stones composed of one or more large ones supported in a horizontal position upon others.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English cromlech — c.1600, from Welsh, from crom, fem. of crwm crooked, bent, concave + llech (flat) stone. Applied in Wales and Cornwall to what in Brittany is a DOLMEN (Cf. dolmen); a cromlech there is a circle of standing stones …   Etymology dictionary crómlech — sustantivo masculino 1. Crónlech. crónlech o crómlech sustantivo masculino 1. Monumento megalítico formado por un círculo o elipse de menhires …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española crómlech — (Del fr. cromlech, y este de or. bretón). m. Monumento megalítico consistente en una serie de piedras o menhires que cercan un corto espacio de terreno llano y de forma elíptica o circular …   Diccionario de la lengua española Cromlech — Cromlech, s. Kromlech …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon Cromlech — Cromlech, s. Dolmen …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”