ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines how we approach dolmens as a distinctive group of tomb structures in the archaeological landscape, and how our fascination with megalithic monuments in general. It also examines the evidence for identifying dolmens as a pan-Levantine phenomenon. The book argues that features identified as dolmens in the northern Levant share few morphological characteristics with dolmens further south. It analyses the distribution of dolmens throughout the catchment with respect to topography, hydrogeology and the changing settlement landscape in the Late Chalcolithic period and Early Bronze Age. The book explains the influence of topography and geology on the distribution and morphology of dolmens at Tell er-Ras. It investigates the processes involved in the quarrying and movement of the megalithic slabs, drawing on several quarry sites discovered along the ridge, including a partly hewn roof-slab.
