This paper examines megaliths in Poland from a landscape and folklore perspective, focusing on location, terrain, visibility, and proximity to water, and considers their later role in folklore and social memory.
Paper long abstract
This paper explores megaliths in Poland from the perspective of landscape and folklore, emphasizing the interplay between physical placement and cultural meaning. Analyses focus on site selection, terrain features, proximity to water bodies, and visibility patterns. Evidence shows that megalith locations were deliberately chosen to serve ritual, communicative, and symbolic functions within the prehistoric landscape. In addition, the study addresses how megaliths were perceived and used in later periods - as folkloric landmarks, orientation points, and places of social memory - demonstrating their enduring significance across generations. By combining archaeological data with landscape analysis and folkloristic perspectives, this paper highlights the dynamic relationship between monuments, human activity, and cultural narratives, situating megaliths not merely as static artifacts, but as active participants in the shaping of both physical and cultural landscapes.