Nucleus

The megalithic tomb Grimschleben 1 or Heringsberg belongs to the type of a grand dolmen and is located east of Bernburg at Nienburg-Grimschleben in the “Stone Age Landscape Latdorf” (between the Saale and the L73), which consists of several megalithic tombs and burial mounds. Overall, the tomb seems to be well preserved. Due to the flat construction and the fact that the grave is partially filled with earth, the end of the unusually large dolmen can not be clearly seen. Preserved are six support stones and at least five capstones. The chamber is of trapezoidal shape, oriented southwest-northeast. Length is at least 9 m, width over 3 m at the north-east end. At least the orthostat in the north-east end is missing.

In Grimschleben drive the Thomas-Müntzer-Straße south to the village exit. There it turns into a dirt road that leads to Latdorf. Follow this for about 300 meters to a group of trees to the right in the field. The tomb is located here.

Visited April 2019

taken from the information board
Arbeitskreis Archäologie im Bernburger Land e.V.:

Heringsberg – Grimschleben 1 (Herring Hill)

Middle Neolithic period: approx. 4,100 – 2,700 BC Chr.
Late Bronze Age: approx. 1.300 – 750 BC.

In the Middle Neolithic period, monumental stone grave monuments, so-called giant’s graves (megalithic tombs), were erected in large parts of northern, central and western Europe. Such a prehistoric tomb is also the Heringsberg. Together with other megalithic tombs in the vicinity (Steinerne Hütte near Latdorf, Bierberg near Gerbitz, Teufelskeller near Drosa, Hoher Berg near Wulfen) it counts to the southernmost representatives of such tombs in Central Europe.

The tomb was once covered by a mighty mound (height: 10 m, diameter: 70 m). His uncontrolled removal took place in 1729. Fortunately, this circumstance, a plan as well as information on the finds found here were handed down to us by Casper ABEL 1730 in his “Sächsischen Altertümern” (“Saxon Antiquities”). Accordingly, a vessel and bones are said to have been found in the burial chamber. In addition, other stone cists and urns (vessels with burned bones) were found in the mound, which are apparently burials of the late Bronze Age. Since the finds have not been preserved, only generally Middle Neolithic age can be assumed for the initial use of the burial site on the basis of comparative findings.

The former character of the monument as a dominant landmark is today severely disturbed by the nearby lime dumps.

The origin and meaning of the name Heringsberg can not be safely determined. There may be a connection with the well-known from the Old Thuringian mythology hero Iring, who according to people’s faith here his final resting place. More widespread, however, is the legend that Heringsberg is the tomb of Prince Buzico, which again refers to an ancestor of the ancient Wettins. The legends at least show that (long before archaeologists came on the scene) our ancestors were aware that Heringsberg and other comparable hills in our area were prehistoric tombs.

The tomb is located north of Drosa in a field. Already around 1700 the megalithic site was uncovered and got the name Teufelskeller (Devil’s cellar). Today, only six support stones and a huge and impressive capstone are preserved. The tomb originally had a mound, which had an extent of 19-20 m in north-south direction. In the vicinity of the tomb, two larger granite blocks were discovered, which probably belonged to a stone enclosure. The first had a height of about 1 m, the second a height of at least 2 m and a width of over 1 m.

The site gives the impression of a simple dolmen, but it is originally a passage grave. On the southern side was a 3-meter-long and 90-cm-wide corridor through which the dead were carried to the burial place for burial. The passage and the burial chamber separated a sill stone.

Drosa is located about 8.5 km northwest of Köthen (Anhalt) and just under a kilometer west of Wulfen. Already from the center of Drosa the grave is signposted and easy to find. Drive on the K2091 from Drosa towards Dornbock. After you leave the village turn right into the road Zum Großsteingrab, which leads in a north-east direction. Follow this road for about 700 m, passing allotment gardens to your left. Turn left at the end of allotment gardens, there is a parking lot and rest area. There is a path from here leading in 150 m to the tomb.

Visited April 2019

Wulfen (also Hoher Berg) is a very well preserved neolithic megalithic tomb on the Hohen Berg in Wulfen. Originally there were two megalithic tombs in Wulfen, but one of them was destroyed in 1883. The preserved site belongs to the type of the passage graves. It consists of eight wall and three cover stones. The length of the tomb is 3.60 m. On the south side there is an access to the burial chamber. The tomb was discovered in 1784 and opened. The findings are now in the Museum of Köthen and testify to a long-lasting use of the grave. The tomb is to be considered, historically, as the most important and richest site of Anhalt.

The site is unfortunately not signposted. Coming from Köthen, one drives shortly after the village sign on the left in the street Hoher Berg. After about 230 m you reach the tomb, which is located on the right of the road on a small, well-kept mound.

Visited April 2019

taken from the information board:

Megalithic tomb Wulfen

The remainder of a megalithic burial site on the Hohen Berg was discovered here on the occasion of a rabbit hunt in 1784, the grave mound on the eastern side was dug up and the gable stone removed. There were a few urns “and other oddities”. To get in comfortably, the grave contents of sand and clay were dug up and a door was placed on the east side, the key handed over to Pastor Renthe in Wulfen.
Excavations of the megalithic tomb, which was covered by a mound of 34 x 16 m in diameter and a maximum height of 4.5 m, took place in 1912 by W. Götze, Köthen. The roughly square burial chamber is oriented almost west-east, 1.80 m wide and 5.10 m long.
The inner height was from the ground, which formed a sandstone slab layer, to the ceiling 1.70 m. On the southern side is the almost 3 m long, 0.70 m to 0.95 m wide access to the burial chamber. A large stone, lying over the sill stone, closed this opening.
Of the 18 supporting stones and capstones are still eleven available. The finds of 1784 have been lost. The excavation of 1912 yielded a small vessel, some shards and flint equipment (Walternienburg culture and Bernburg culture of the Neolithic period 2700 – 2300 BC) and in the upper layers of the mound the skeleton of a executed in the late Middle Ages. The finds are in the depot of the archaeological monument care of the district administration Köthen.

The stone cist of Plömnitz is a 2.30 meter long cist made of large sandstone slabs. The two long sides with two or one stone and one narrow side stand upright, next to the stone cist lies one stone of the other narrow side. A capstone is not present. The stone cist was excavated in Plömnitz at the beginning of the 20th century and moved here.

During my visit the stone cist was heavily overgrown with ivy. I ran past the cist several times without noticing it. So you just have to believe that the cist is pictured on the images. In the internet I found the following picture showing the cist without the ivy (Steinkiste Plömnitz @ www.koethener-land.de).

Entering the castle through the main entrance leads directly to the stone cist, which is in flowering bed, 70 m left of the entrance near a cafe. Unfortunately, there is no sign and no board with explanations to the grave.

Visited April 2019

This 5,000-year-old stone cist known as “Schortewitzer Rampenkiste” was originally located northwest of Schortewitz on the Fuhne on the Windmühlenberg. It was not far from the megalithic tomb Schortewitz. The burial mound had a diameter of about 40 meters and this contained a grave with the skeleton of a man. In 2001 it was rebuilt on the Ferdinandsbau of the Köthen castle.

Entering the castle through the main entrance, turning right over a bridge over a moat and then through the gate, you enter a U-shaped, large courtyard. Somewhat hidden behind the end of the left (north) wing is the stone cist. I didn’t find any sign and no board with explanations about the grave.

Visited April 2019

On the grounds of Schloss Köthen there are two relocated stone cists next to a prehistoric collection in Ferdinandsbau. The 5,000 year old, as “Schortewitzer Rampenkiste” known megalithic site was originally northwest of Schortewitz in Saxony-Anhalt on the Fuhne on the Windmühlenberg, not far from the megalithic tomb Schortewitz. The stone cist of Plömnitz comes from Plömnitz and was excavated by the district conservator Walter Götze at the beginning of the 20th century and relocated here.

Visited April 2019

The megalithic tomb Schortewitz, also known as Schortewitzer Heidenberg (Heidenberg meaning pagan hill), is located on the northern outskirts of Schortewitz. It is a 6.80 meters long Neolithic passage grave and, according to a local information board, the southernmost megalithic tomb in central Germany. Ten supporting stones and two capstones are present. Unfortunately, at some places there have been made supplement in the form of concrete and small stones quite unprofessional, the fencing of the site is also, in my opinion, little succeeded.

Drive on the K2071 from Görzig towards Schortewitz. Just after you entered the village, the road slighty bends to the right. Drive straight on into the Heidenberg road. The tomb lies to the left (north) behind the house with the number 5. There is a small meadow path which leads to the tomb and a outdoor amphitheatre.

Visited April 2019