The largest concentration of dolmens in the world is on the Korean peninsula. Biggest but the accumulation of megalithic complexes can be found in the central region of Senegalwhich borders the Gambia in the north.

Monuments themselves are a mystery. Experts have not yet been able to determine the date of their occurrence. Generally, however, it is believed that megalithic structures began to emerge from 3. century BC before 16. century AD.

Wassu - Saloum Circles

This again shows how vast the number of ancient places that exist on Earth, and which most people have no idea. On the 30 000 square mileage between the two countries, north of Janjanbureh (formerly Georgetown), we find the megalithic structures of the lost civilization.

These mighty monuments are sometimes divided into Wass Circles (Gambia) and Sine-Saloum Circles (Senegal), but this is only a purely national division of modern times.

Megalithic structures located in Senegal and the Gambia are usually divided into four main areas: Sine Ngayene and Wanar in Senegal and Wassu and Kerbatch in the central Gambia.

Senegal's megalithic stone circles are home to about 29 stones, 000 monuments and 17 individual sites. The monuments were first examined in 000 by archaeologists Todd and Ozanna.

UNESCO

The complex of megalithic stone circles was in 2006 added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Todd conducted trenches at 1911 sites along with Wolbach and concluded that their construction could not be attributed to the cultures that inhabited the area at that time.

Experts have found that the construction of the Senegambian stone memorials points to a mature and well-organized culture with regard to the amount of work needed to build such structures.

Works of advanced culture

It is believed that the stones were mined using iron tools from laterite quarries, although archaeologists have found only a few quarries near the monuments. As old builders transported massive stone blocks from the quarry to the construction site remains a puzzle.

Who were these people of antiquity is also a mystery. Some archaeologists believe it is the people of Serai, who are builders of huge buildings. This theory stems from the fact that Serena still uses tombs found in Wanar.

Serera

Serera is the third largest ethnic group in Senegal and forms 15% of the Senegalese population. Nearby monuments were found by mounds with human remains, ceramics and other objects. But it is not clear whether and how these graves relate to stone circles.

Some theories suggest that builders of structures were farmers, because most of the circles lie near rivers, but experts have discovered spears in some tombs, suggesting they were also hunters.

Most experts agree that it is not precisely known whether graves were already in front of circles, whether they were from the same time or were built later. According to local legends, circles were built around the graves of the kings of the ancient Kingdom of Ghana.

The largest monolith

The largest monolith is located in Wassu, Gambia, has a height of 2,59 meters and is part of a circle that contains ten more stones.

However, the area with the largest number circles is Sine Ngayene in Senegal with 52 circles, one of which has double stone circles and total 1102 stones.

New conclusions

Archaeological excavations conducted in 2002 concluded that some graves are clearly older than megaliths.

Despite all the riddles that surround these megalithic structures, we know for sure: the area is home to the largest gathering of megalithic complexes in the world, because in no other part of the world we have found so many megaliths.