Article

Megalithic Art in the Levantine Rift Valley: the case of the Menjez megalithic monuments in the Akkar (Northern Lebanon)

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Abstract

The discovery of engraved art brings to light new aspects of megalithic monuments in the Levant. During the 4th millennium BC, the inhabitants of Menjez invested significant time in inhuming their dead in megalithic monuments. The study of 12 tombs in that locality yielded 63 pictograms. The description of these signs and their distribution within the monuments enables us to define the scenery established by their creators through careful placement of the rock slabs forming these megalithic tombs. Parallels within the Middle East bring to light cultural and religious codes shared by megalithic builders in the whole region and, in particular, the role played by snake iconography.

How to Cite:

Steimer-Herbet, T., (2020) “Megalithic Art in the Levantine Rift Valley: the case of the Menjez megalithic monuments in the Akkar (Northern Lebanon)”, Akkadica 141(1), 1–24. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/akkadica.99672

Rights: © The author