This page was last updated on January 18, 1998

TABLE 1


CHRONOLOGICAL MODEL OF MEGALITHIC CHAMBER EVOLUTION

3600-2990/2860 B.C./2860-2400/2300 b.c. [3550/3500-3100 B.C. (Danish TRB chambers only)]

3600-3290 B.C./2860-2610 b.c. [3550/3500-3100 B.C.] Dolmen

3600-3530 B.C./2860-2800 b.c. [3550/3500-3400 B.C.] Primeval-dolmen (urdolmen, normally parallel to long-mound)

3550-3460 B.C./2850-2750 b.c. Transitional dolmen (parallel/perpendicular to long-mound)

  • 3550 B.C./2815 b.c. Top-entrance urdolmen
  • 3530 B.C./2800 b.c. Half-height front-entrance urdolmen and square-dolmen
  • 3500 B.C./2780 b.c. Extended-dolmen with axial capstone

    • 3480-3290 B.C./2760-2610 b.c. [3400-3100 B.C.] Multiple side-stone dolmen (perpendicular to long-mound)

  • 3480 B.C./2760 b.c. Rectilinear and polygonal extended-dolmen
  • 3450 B.C./2740 b.c. Rectilinear and polygonal grand-dolmen

    • 3400-3100/2970 B.C./2700-2490/2400 b.c. [3250-3100 B.C.] Passage-graves

    3400-3290 B.C./2700-2610 b.c. Transitional chambers with passage

    3400 B.C./2700 b.c. Large polygonal- and rectilinear-dolmen/protopassage-graves with angled/corner entrance and passage

    3360-3100/2970 B.C./2650-2490/2400 b.c. [3250-3100 B.C.] Passage-graves*

  • 3360 B.C./2650 b.c. Primeval passage-graves
  • 3290 B.C./2610 b.c. Extended passage-graves
  • 3240 B.C./2570 b.c. Grand passage-graves

    • 3320-3100/2970 B.C./2630-2490/2400 b.c. [3250-3100 B.C.] Complex Chambers

  • 3320 B.C./2630 b.c. Side-chamber passage-graves
  • 3300 B.C./2620 b.c. End-chamber passage-graves
  • 3290 B.C./2610 b.c. Double passage-graves
  • 3260 B.C./2580 b.c. Triple passage-graves
  • 3240 B.C./2570 b.c. Dual-passage chambers
  • 3210 B.C./2560 b.c. Single chamber double passage-graves

    • 3400-2860 B.C./2700-2300 b.c. Gallery-graves
  • 3400 B.C./2700 b.c. Primeval gallery-graves with front- or side entrance
  • 3290 B.C./2610 b.c. Extended gallery-graves with front- or side entrance
  • 3240 B.C./2570 b.c. Grand gallery-graves with front- or side-entrance

    • Calibrations are arbitrarily rounded and based on equivalent dates by Midgley 1992:495-501. *The calibration of 3360 B.C./2650 b.c. is based on Bakker 1992:xiii. Dates of passage-graves have been partially adjusted to accommodate Brindley's (1986a, b) chronology as applied by Bakker (1992). [ ] = Currently preferred Danish dates according to P.O. Nielsen (personal communication April 1996).