Megalith at Quai Branly, Paris

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A colossal stone monument is a massive stone structure used to construct buildings or monuments, either alone or together with other stones. The term "colossal" describes structures made of such enormous stones, employing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or concrete, as well as representing periods of prehistory characterized by such constructions. For later periods, the term monolith, with an overlapping meaning, is more likely to be used. The word "colossal" originates from the Ancient Greek "μέγας" (transl. megas meaning "great") and "λίθος" (transl. lithos meaning "stone"). Colossal also denotes an item consisting of rock(s) hewn in definite shapes for special purposes. It has been used to describe buildings built by people from many parts of the world living in various periods. A variety of massive stones are seen as colossal, with the most widely known colossal structures not being sepulchral. The construction of these structures took place mainly in the Neolithic (though earlier Mesolithic examples are known) and continued into the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. In the heart of Senegal lies a colossal zone which spreads across 36,000 km2. Approximately 30,000 monoliths have been discovered dating from the 2nd Century BC to as far back as the 16th Century BC. These stones, arranged in a lateral conglomerate, mark the gravestones or tombs of the area's ancestors. These monoliths often have very distinct forms which has given the site of Soto (in the region of Kaolack, Senegal) the name of "Stone Lyre". This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.