Added December 26, 1997. Updated November 28, 2000
Causewayed enclosures, the oldest roads, the first wagon tracks, and the development of megalithic tombs in southern Scandinavia and Central Europe.
A Bandkeramik causewayed enclosure implies 7000 year old roads. Spatial analysis of 5000 later long-barrows, megalithic tombs, and German/Belgian gallery-graves indicates a huge communication network. Major communication lines disseminated culture change. The tomb distributions partly correlate with known linguistic groups. Tomb alignments indicate roads, converging on causewayed camps by 3500±100 cal. BC. Megalithic tomb origins are autochthonous. French origins are unlikely. Early megalithic architecture is a replacement for wood in areas where large timbers become a precious commodity, being diverted to the construction of wheeled vehicles, palisaded enclosures, boats, increasingly large houses and perhaps firewood for copper and gold production. (Sample of Figures)
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