Ormshøj
The Ormshøj is a passage grave on the outskirts of the village Årby, east of Kalundborg on the Danish island of Zealand . The passage grave is an assembled double system in Denmark (60) and Sweden (3). It dates from the Neolithic Age around 3500–2800 BC. And is a megalithic system of the funnel beaker culture (TBK). The passage grave is a form of Neolithic megalithic systems, which consists of a chamber and a structurally separated, lateral passage. This form is primarily found in Denmark, Germany and Scandinavia, as well as occasionally in France and the Netherlands. Neolithic monuments are an expression of the culture and ideology of Neolithic societies. Their origin and function are considered to be the hallmarks of social development. In 1934, the occasion were Johannis fire destroyed Årby parts of the passage grave.
description
The double chamber with separate entrances has a common dividing stone between the chambers. This form occurs otherwise in North Jutland, where the chambers are mostly separated in the hill. The axes of the double chambers usually form an obtuse angle and thus adapt to the round hill. The Klekkende Høj on Møn is the only example of a chamber system whose chamber and passage axes are at right angles and form completely straight lines. Double chambers are a feature of this region and the geographical concentration ( Hyldedysse von Rørby , Korshøj near Ubby) could indicate that there were specialized construction crews who built the mighty megalithic structures during the Neolithic period .
Ormshøj was discovered in 1879 when a farmer was removing some rocks protruding from the round hill. He found human bones and notified the National Museum. The immediate excavation showed that it was a relatively well-preserved passage grave, but that the capstones were missing. The masonry between the supporting stones was in good condition. The chamber floor was paved with small stones. In the southern chamber, an area of 1.6 × 0.9 m was partitioned off as quarters (Danish: Gulvinddelinger ) on the wall . Traces of other quarters were found later.
The southern long oval chamber (apart from the dividing stone) has ten bearing stones and a quarter (Danish: Gulvinddeling). Its passage with the remains of two locking points has eight bearing stones. The northern chamber is somewhat misshapen, resulting in two small wall niches. It has nine bearing stones. The corridor with the remains of two locking points still has five bearing stones. Since the systems have a common component, they should have been created simultaneously. Although a unitary concept remains possible, this chamber appears more like a later addition.
Restorations
When Sophus Müller (1846–1934) came to Årby in 1909, he was accompanied by Julius Raklev, who had grown up in the region. They restored the complex, and Raklev became one of the leading restorers of dolmens and passage graves in the country. For almost half a century he repaired the damage to the facilities. Ormshøj, which he visited again in 1934, was one of his first works. In 1986 and 1988 further major repairs had to be made. The thin blade of a flint ax was found stuck in the wall. Otherwise only Børnehøj in Roskilde shows such a constellation .
The Langdysse in Asnæs Forskov is nearby .
See also
literature
- Karsten Kjer Michaelsen: Politikens bog om Danmarks oldtid (= Politikens håndbøger. ). Politiken, Copenhagen 2002, ISBN 87-567-6458-8 .
Individual evidence
- ^ Johannes Müller : Neolithic Monuments and Neolithic Societies. In: Hans-Jürgen Beier , Erich Claßen, Thomas Doppler, Britta Ramminger (eds.): Varia neolithica VI. Neolithic Monuments and Neolithic Societies. Contributions from the meeting of the Neolithic Working Group during the annual meeting of the North-West German Association for Ancient Research in Schleswig, 9. – 10. October 2007 (= contributions to the prehistory and early history of Central Europe. Vol. 56). Beier & Beran, Langenweißbach 2009, ISBN 978-3-941171-28-2 , pp. 7-16, here p. 15.
Web links
Coordinates: 55 ° 38 '57.1 " N , 11 ° 7' 50.7" E