The Ikom monoliths are a series of volcanic-stone monoliths from the area of Ikom , Cross River State , Nigeria . The Ejagham may have engraved the monoliths around 200 CE. The monoliths are also called Akwasnshi or Atal among the Ejagham people.
6-448: The stones are distributed among over thirty communities, in each community, they are found in circles, facing each other erect. Numbering about 300 in total, the monoliths are between 0.3 and 1.8 metres (1 and 6 feet) high and are laid out in some thirty circles located around Alok in the Ikom area of Cross River State . They may be located in the central meeting place of the village or in
12-522: A considerable distance after quarrying. It may also be used of large glacial erratics moved by natural forces. The word derives, via the Latin monolithus , from the Ancient Greek word μονόλιθος ( monólithos ), from μόνος ( mónos ) meaning "one" or "single" and λίθος ( líthos ) meaning "stone". Large, well-known monoliths include: A structure which has been excavated as
18-504: The British Museum 's collection. 6°00′N 8°30′E / 6°N 8.5°E / 6; 8.5 Monoliths A monolith is a geological feature consisting of a single massive stone or rock, such as some mountains . Erosion usually exposes the geological formations, which are often made of very hard and solid igneous or metamorphic rock . Some monoliths are volcanic plugs , solidified lava filling
24-508: The nearby people do not commonly see their worth as tourist attractions. They were added to the World Monuments Fund 's list of sites in danger in 2008. In 2020, Ikom monoliths were found by U.S Customs and Border Protection at Miami International Airport under fraudulent documents. The artifacts will be returned to Cross River ( Nigeria ). A medium-sized example of an Ikom monolith with human facial features can be found in
30-595: The uncultivated area outside the village. The monoliths are carved in hard, medium-textured basaltic rock , a few are carved in sandstone and shelly limestone ; they are phallic in form and some feature stylized faces as well as decorative patterns and inscriptions . Although the carvings have not been deciphered, researchers and linguists believe that the inscriptions may represent a form of writing and visual communication. Exposure to extreme weather conditions have put these monoliths at risk of erosion and deterioration. The monoliths are also located in an area where
36-400: The vent of an extinct volcano . In architecture, the term has considerable overlap with megalith , which is normally used for prehistory , and may be used in the contexts of rock-cut architecture that remains attached to solid rock, as in monolithic church , or for exceptionally large stones such as obelisks , statues, monolithic columns or large architraves , that may have been moved
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