Lilla Bjärs burial ground
The burial ground of Lilla Bjärs ( German "Klein Bjärs" ) is on the road from Stenkyrka to Tingstäde on the Swedish island of Gotland . Judging by the shapes of the tombs , the burial ground was used throughout the Iron Age . The oldest systems, however, probably go back to the younger Bronze Age .
It covers an area of around 15 hectares, contains over 1000 grave complexes and is today Gotland's largest contiguous burial ground. Its main part is north of the road, on both sides of a small forest path, which is the remnant of the prehistoric path from Gränehof to Stenkyrka. To the south of the road, the cemetery extends to a cultivated moor about 150 m in the southwest.
The graves consist mainly of Bronze Age cairn graves (Röse) and stone setting. The largest rose in the cemetery, with a diameter of 17 m, is the so-called "Äuglehaug". Most of the loops have depressions in the middle, which indicates looting. Within the highest part of the burial ground in the northwest there are two stone circles made of large stone blocks. They are probably the remains of older cairn graves, the remaining material of which was used to build younger graves. In addition, a Bronze Age ship settlement has been preserved.
Scattered over the burial ground are about a dozen parts of picture stones or erected limestone slabs . Many of the parts of picture stones that probably come from this burial ground and the wheel grave of Lilla Bjärs are in the church of Stenkyrka and in Stenkyrka, respectively.
See also
literature
- M. Jonsson, S.-O. Lindquist: Gotland cultural guide . 1993, ISBN 91-88036-09-X .
Web links
- Grave field of Lilla Bjärs - entry in the database "Fornsök" des Riksantikvarieämbetet (Swedish)
- Description Swedish with pictures
- Description Engl. and pictures
Coordinates: 57 ° 47 ′ 29.5 ″ N , 18 ° 32 ′ 58.9 ″ E