 The Early Neolithic people of Britain placed far greater emphasis on the ritualised burial of the dead than their Mesolithic forebears had done . Many archaeologists have suggested that this is because Early Neolithic people adhered to an ancestor cult that venerated the spirits of the dead , believing that they could intercede with the forces of nature for the benefit of their living descendants . Archaeologist Robin Holgate stressed that rather than simply being tombs , the Medway Megaliths were " communal mouments fulfilling a social function for the communities who built and used them . " Thus , it has furthermore been suggested that Early Neolithic people entered into the tombs – which doubled as temples or shrines – to perform rituals that would honour the dead and ask for their assistance . For this reason , historian Ronald Hutton termed these monuments " tomb @-@ shrines " to reflect their dual purpose . 
 The Early Neolithic people of Britain placed far greater emphasis on the ritualised burial of the dead than their Mesolithic forebears had done . Many archaeologists <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>have</mark></a> suggested that this is because Early Neolithic people adhered to an ancestor cult <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>that</mark></a>venerated the spirits of the dead , believing that they could intercede with the forces of nature for the benefit of their living descendants . Archaeologist Robin Holgate stressed that rather than simply being tombs , the Medway Megaliths <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> " communal mouments fulfilling a social function for the communities <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>who</mark></a>built and used them . " Thus , it <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>has</mark></a> furthermore been suggested that Early Neolithic people entered into the tombs – which doubled as temples or shrines – to perform rituals <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>that</mark></a>would honour the dead and ask for their assistance . For this reason , historian Ronald Hutton termed these monuments " tomb @-@ shrines " to reflect their dual purpose . 
Da Early Neolithic pple of Britain placed far greater emphasis on the ritualised burial of the dead den their Mesolithic forebears had done . Many archaeologists done suggested that this is because Early Neolithic people adhered to an ancestor cult venerated tdaspirits of the dead , believing dat they could intercede witt thdaorces of nature fa thedanefit of their living descendants . Archaeologist Robin Holgate stressed that rather than simply being tombs , the daway Megaliths was " communal mouments fulfilling a social function ffirthe communities built and used them . " Thus , it done furthermore been suggested that Early Neolithic people entered into the tombs – which doubled as temples or shrines – to perform rituals would honour the dda and ask for their assistance . For this reason , historian Ronald Hutton termed dese monuments " tomb @-@ shrines " to reflect their dual purpose .