Rectangular dolmen

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The term rectangle dolmen (after Ekkehard Aner) occurs particularly in Schleswig-Holstein , where the exact floor plan also occurs primarily. The term “ extended dolmen ” (after Ewald Schuldt and Ernst Sprockhoff ) has been chosen more precisely , as this type of dolmen also has a trapezoidal floor plan (e.g. Gnewitz ). The dolmens were built between 3500 and 2800 BC. BC as megalithic systems of the funnel beaker culture (TBK). 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.

Rectangular poles (above), passage grave with quarters and a polygonal pole (below)

Capstones and passage

While the Urdolmen usually only has one capstone (but can have two), the Rectangular Dolmen, which differs from the Urdolmen (lying) primarily in the arrangement of its supporting stones (standing), usually has two capstones (but can also have one). From the third capstone onwards, one speaks of large dolmen in Germany , and of Stordysse or stordysse in Denmark and Scandinavia . A further subdivision of this dolmen type relates (only used in Germany) to the access that is always present in this type , e.g. B. can be provided with a beam-high half-stone (usually with recessed systems) or with angled beams (usually with not recessed).

The ratio of chamber width to chamber length (inside) determined for 33 systems is between 1: 1.05 (Waabs-East) and 1: 3.17 (Nebel-West). On average around 1: 1.83 (Windeby).

Hill shape

In long hills ( megalithic beds ), the rectangular dolms are mostly located at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the megalithic bed. The proportion of rectangular dolmen in round or oval hills increases in Schleswig-Holstein from 20% to at least 27% in the case of Urdolmen. The majority of the hills that have gone out are added, as experience shows that round hills that have been removed leave fewer traces than giant beds. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania , only two of the 20 “extended dolmens” examined by Ewald Schuldt were located in the round hill.

Accesses

The dolmen of the Nordic megalithic architecture are accessible from a narrow side. Occasionally there is a short corridor, often made up of only 1 to 2 pairs of stones and 1.0 to 1.5 m in length, in front of the chamber. Even in the case of undisturbed systems, it is often so short that it does not reach the stones surrounding the barren bed or the round hill and only forms the anteroom to the chamber. The edging of the barn bed is closed where one would expect a gap, so that the stone in question in the edging would have to be removed in order to get into the dolmen . In Denmark and Sweden the tunnels, especially in the more frequent round hills there, can be considerably longer.

distribution

The rectangular dolmen, mostly over two meters long, sometimes even over three meters long and 0.9 m to 1.5 m wide, continues the tendency to enlarge the interior space that began with the ancient dolmen . With around 145 chambers, it is at the top of all types among dolmens in Schleswig-Holstein . It occurs in the entire coastal area and on the East Frisian Islands and reaches the Elbe via the distribution area south of the Plöner See , where it is also represented south of the river in Lower Saxony . In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, 54 extended dolmens have been preserved. Its former inventory is estimated at 98.

Rectangular pillars are also used multiple times in giant beds . While there are up to five dolmens in Denmark ( Langdolmen Stenbjerggård ), in Germany the facilities of Waabs in the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde with three rectangular dolmens and in Kampen on Sylt with three polygonal sparrows in the common megalopolis are known (both in Schleswig-Holstein). A larger number of barren beds, but also a few round hills, have / had ( Nobbin ) two extended dolmens.

See also

literature

  • Mamoun Fansa : large stone graves between Weser and Ems . 3rd revised edition. Isensee, Oldenburg 2000, ISBN 3-89598-741-7 ( Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Nordwestdeutschland . Supplement 33).
  • Michael Schmidt: The old stones. Travel to the megalithic culture in Central Europe. Hinstorff, Rostock 1998, ISBN 3-356-00796-3 .
  • Jürgen E. Walkowitz: The megalithic syndrome. European cult sites of the Stone Age (= contributions to the prehistory and early history of Central Europe. Vol. 36). Beier & Beran, Langenweißbach 2003, ISBN 3-930036-70-3 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ This fine division of dolmens into subtypes is only common in Germany. These types do not occur in the Netherlands or Poland. In Denmark and Sweden a distinction is only made between dolmen (Dysse, Döse) and passage grave. For this, in Denmark, the hill is included in the nomenclature of dolmen (round and long dyssey)
  2. ↑ J. Müller in: Varia neolithica VI, 2009, p. 15
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