Open Geosci. 2018; 10:504–516 Research Article Open Access Alicja Edyta Krzemińska*, Anna Dzikowska, Anna Danuta Zaręba, Katarzyna Rozalia Jarosz, Krzysztof Widawski, and Janusz Stanisław Łach The Significance of Megalithic Monuments in the Process of Place Identity Creation and in Tourism Development https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2018-0040 Received February 28, 2018; accepted June 22, 2018 1 Introduction Abstract: All over the world and for thousands of years, The presence of megaliths in cultural heritage is of great megaliths have been significant cultural elements, as well importance for most countries throughout the world. as sacred sites and places of power. Nowadays megaliths These objects exist on all continents, creating a unique act as a strong magnet for tourists, who appreciate their network of priceless cultural geosites. Areas on which me- history, esoterica and magic. Some megaliths were used galithic buildings are located create a uniquely mysterious for astronomical observations, so vital to maintain the aura; they intrigue, stimulate the imagination, and often continuity of harvest and crop. Other megalithic construc- evoke the feeling of communing with something supernat- tions were erected for funerary purposes, and served as ural. Since the dawn of time, these places have been sur- individual or collective burial chambers. Megalithic struc- rounded by a specific cult, playing an important role in tures are usually referred to as belonging to the European the development of civilization. The oldest megaliths can Neolithic but it has to be stressed that some megalithic be found on the African continent, notably in the Sahara constructions date back to the Bronze Age, and some were and the Central African Republic. They are dated to the 6th also built on other continents. Megaliths are a vital ele- century B.C., and in Europe to the 5th century B.C. In total, ment of landscape and for historical reasons they are a throughout the world, megalithic formation developed for sui generis monument, commemorating prehistorical cul- about 7-8 thousand years. Currently, megaliths no longer tures. At the same time, along with the remaining ele- play a decisive role in beliefs, but there are exceptions: for ments of the natural and cultural environment, they cre- example, for some African tribes, especially those who live ate a unique image of place identity, attracting large num- in the belt south of the Sahara, they are still an important bers of tourists. Interestingly, despite the strong attrac- cultural element [1, 2]. Megalithic constructions are one of tion exercised by megaliths, there are still many places the most typical features of the European Neolithic; how- where tourism does not develop as rapidly as might be as- ever, they functioned in the Bronze Age, being a crucial sumed. For the above-mentioned reasons, a comparative element of the landscape [3–5]. In the history of the world, analysis of several megalithic sites has been conducted the periods when megalithic structures flourished were in Poland, Sweden, Portugal and Denmark. The follow- characterized by the intensive economic, cultural and spir- ing elements have been analysed: the megaliths imme- diate surroundings, the existing and planned or under- construction tourist and communication infrastructure, *Corresponding Author: Alicja Edyta Krzemińska: as well as architectural and spatial technical solutions and Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management, development. Also the key negative and positive elements University of Wroclaw, Wrocław, 50-137 Poland, E-mail: al- have been defined which influence the tourist potential of [email protected] the places in question, and constitute the tourism attrac- Anna Danuta Zaręba, Krzysztof Widawski, Janusz Stanisław Łach: Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management, tiveness factors of a region. University of Wroclaw, Wrocław, 50-137 Poland Anna Dzikowska: Faculty of Security and Safety Research, General Keywords: megaliths, megalithic construction, megalithic Tadeusz Kosciuszko Military University of Land Forces Wroclaw, tomb, archaeological tourism, tourist potential, Ales Ste- MULF, Wrocław, 51-147, Poland Katarzyna Rozalia Jarosz: Faculty of Logistics and Transport, nar, Lejre, Wietrzychowice International University of Logistics and Transport in Wrocław, Wrocław, 51-168, Poland Open Access. © 2018 Alicja Edyta Krzemińska et al., published by De Gruyter. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License. The Significance of Megalithic Monuments in the Process of Place Identity Creation Ë 505 itual development of societies, and the creation of a spe- analysis (see Table 2). They were then evaluated in terms cific belief system and advanced living standards. This re- of: attractiveness, clarity/legibility (ease of perception), re- sulted in the creation of proto-civilization on the Iberian sources / possibilities (the number of given elements in a Peninsula, and in India, in the Iron Age [1]. Similarly, in given area, the possibilities which they create to increase Central America, the Olmec, at the turn of the second and the attractiveness of the area), functionality and compli- first century B.C. created a civilization and also, in Japan, ance with the needs of such facilities. An interaction ma- a civilization was created in the first century A.D. [1, 6]. trix – the so-called Leopold’s matrix was used [7]. This fa- Megaliths are permanently present in the landscapes cilitated the multi-criteria evaluation of the research area, all over the world, and for years they have been attract- allowing recording both partial assessments, and the sum- ing tourists with their mysterious character. However, it mary assessment. A six-grade scale was applied, which as- is worth noting that not all such areas are equally well- sessed the impact of individual evaluation elements, from frequented - their popularity as tourist attractions differs. grade 0 (no impact) to grade 5 (very large impact). The final One may wonder whether tourists are attracted by the stage of the research was the analysis of the impact of exist- magic of megaliths themselves, because they are the main ing infrastructure and land use (very strong, average and attraction, or whether the popularity of the place is deter- weak) on the tourism potential of megalith areas (direction mined by other factors as well, including the existing land of impacts: definitely negative, mainly negative, neutral, use, tourist facilities, accompanying events, etc. There- mainly positive, definitely positive) (see Table 3). In this fore, this article attempts to find the most important fac- part, all the research areas were taken into account. On tors that significantly affect tourist behavior. the basis of the previous analyses, the key factors which should considered in the process of planning and design- ing attractive tourist areas with megalithic constructions were identified and grouped. 2 Method In order to analyse the issue, research of two kinds was conducted. Both field work and literature and analytical 3 Megalithic monuments – studies were carried out. Literature studies consisted of analysis of 162 works that, directly or indirectly, referred to heritage of ancestors information on the structure and significance of megaliths Megaliths are large stones or large stone blocks or struc- in the development of societies and tourism. Based on this, tures made of such stone structures and systems. The de- the types of megalithic monuments, their origin, as well nomination comes from two Greek words: "megas" – big as their multidimensional contemporary meaning are de- and "logos" – stone [1, 8]. Interestingly, in all areas me- scribed. galiths exhibit similar features, such as: form, shapes, the Three areas where megaliths are located were selected ideology conditioning their use, as well as architectural for the field research in Europe according to the follow- layouts, therefore not every single stone is a megalith. Me- ing criteria: land-use and the existence of tourist infras- galithic buildings are found all over the world from Africa tructure. A total of three sites was selected: Ales Stenar in to Asia, Europe, America, Australia and Oceania. In Eu- Sweden, Lejre in Denmark and Wietrzychowice in Poland. rope, the highest concentration of megaliths is observed The preliminary assessment of the three sites, consider- in the western, northern and south-western regions. In ing the said criteria, differed. Since the aim of the research countries in the south of Europe they are relatively rare, was to find out what factors influence the attractiveness of but they are abundant on Mediterranean islands (e.g. in tourist areas where megaliths are located and why, the au- Malta). There are several theories concerning the origin of thors asked the question, what constitutes a greater tourist megaliths; however, an important question in these the- attraction, the megaliths as such, or the tourist facilities ories is whether they were created independently of each and/or land use? The research was carried out in each area other, on different continents, or, whether they come from during the period of the highest intensity of tourism, i.e. a single centre. Most researchers believe that the cradle from the end of April to the end of September, in 2016. As a of megalithic culture in general was Sahara and Central part of the research, an inventory of the existing tourist in- Africa, from where it spread to other continents [1, 2, 6]. frastructure was made and the existing land use was eval- Among the megalithic monuments the following, among uated. Among many factors that may determine the attrac- others, can be distinguished: chamber tombs, corridor tiveness of this type of area, 16 were selected for further tombs, gallery tombs, tholoi tombs, stone box graves, rock 506 Ë Alicja Edyta Krzemińska et al. – cut tombs, transept graves, barrow graves, long barrows, tugal. Equally interesting elite tombs were discovered in circles, menhirs, menhirs statuary, covered alleys, stone Great Britain and Ireland, with stones covered with signs houses and megalithic forts (Table 1) [1, 9–12].