menhir
Menhir is a single megalithic standing stone. The name originates from the Breton words men (stone) and hir (long). In Scandinavia they are called bauta stones. Menhirs can most often be found as solitary monoliths, but sometimes they are assembled in a larger group, such as a stone circle, stone ship, or in more complex aligments. Many of them have abstract carvings of spirals, rings and cups on the surface.
Very little is known about menhirs or the people who raised them, however it is probable that they were ritualistic, memorial or sepulchral. It is even suggested, that they have a astronomical function. In any case they are a result of an ancient cultural activity, being erect for almost six thousand years, from the Stone Age to the Iron Age almost all over the world.
Because menhirs are so mysterious, they have naturally been a topic of great interest among enthusiasts of archeology, astronomy and anthropology, inspiring people to explore their megalithic roots. The most famous menhir in the world is that which Asterix's friend Obelix is carrying around on his back in the cartoon.
by 
"menhir"
at The Free Dictionary
