Website accompanying the book ”Menhire in Deutschland” by Johannes Groht (German only)
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September 19, 2025
Oll Gries is probably a medieval stone setting, which consists of four boulders arranged like a small square around a central stone. It was probably a road marker, but the site is listed in the book “Menhire in Deutschland” by Johannes Groht.
From Upschörter Straße (K50), which connects Wiesedermeer with Reepsholt, a sign leads into a dirt road at kilometre 5.9 to the north, walk from here about 700 m to the site.
Visited September 2025
taken from the on-site information board:
Oll Gries
The medieval stone setting Oll Gries (“Old Codger”) consists of four boulders arranged around a central stone. They were placed there in the late Middle Ages at the earliest. As old cart tracks were discovered near the stone setting, it could be interpreted as a landmark. The interpretation as a medieval landmark is supported by the importance of the road between Oldenburg and East Frisia as an old military and trade route.
Stapelstein is a Bronze Age stone cist and consists of four supporting stones with two capstones. Excavations in 1878 found no grave goods. Ernst Sprockhoff classifies the site as a stone cist rather than a megalithic tomb due to its small size.
The cist is located immediately north of the B346 road from Horsten to Friedeburg an eroded round barrow, so access is very easy.
Visited September 2025
taken from the on-site information board:
Megalithic tomb “Stapelstein”
On the natural hilltop near Etzel lies the megalithic tomb “Stapelstein”, which dates back to the Bronze Age.
It consists of four supporting stones with a capstone. The interior, which is approximately two metres long, could accommodate one deceased person. The mound covering the chamber is no longer present, and the capstone was damaged during blasting, causing the supporting stones to shift. Nothing is known about any grave goods found, so it has not been possible to date it precisely.
September 18, 2025
The wettest of days couldn’t dampen my joy when visiting this beautifully preserved monument in such a majestic setting.
Image credit: Derfel
Tapering standing stone of red sandstone a ittle under 6’ht with a packing of small stones. It is 2’6” wide at the base, 12~13” thick and oriented N-S. The pointed top is slightly inclined to the west. Low shows two stumps with directions on a site diagram, now either missing or underground.
Wachtum is badly damaged; only one capstone and two supporting stones remain in a hollow on a mound (approximately 25m x 15m x 3m)
In the Lower Saxony Monument Atlas, the object is listed as an archaeological monument, ID 28944431.
According to Sprockhoff 1926:
Remains of a stone chamber in the oval depression of a round mound. The chamber faces east-west. The western end stone and an adjoining beam of the southern long wall are present, both in situ, and to the east of these is a capstone.
From Wachtum, drive towards Vinnen and turn left (Southwest) onto Vinner Straße shortly before leaving the village. After about 400 metres, you will find the site opposite a house on the left-hand side of the road in a small wood (called “Weißer Sand”).
Visited September 2025
