Nucleus

Tangeln 7 is a grand dolmen consisting of two pairs of supporting stones and a rectangular enclosure. The current state of preservation is moderate. No capstones are preserved, enclosure stones are only partially preserved and fallen outwards. The enclosure as well as the chamber are north-south oriented. The southern part of the enclosure is missing, the remaining width is 7.2 m, eleven enclosure stones are visible, of which three are still standing, another is broken. The chamber meassures 3.1 m x 1m. All six upright support stones are preserved, however, there are no capstones on the chamber. The supporting stones are still buried up to the top in the mound, which is 17.5 m long, 11 m wide and 1 m high.

Since Tangeln 7 is about 100 meters south of Tangeln 1, the same directions apply.

Drive from Tangeln on the K1396 towards Mellin. Just before the road turns onto the B45, the road makes a sharp right-hand bend. Here one drives straight out and parks the car directly on the right side, since a private road begins here. Walk, after about 60 m a path leads to the left. Follow this path, which first goes in a southern direction, before it turns after 100 m to northeast to lead around a field. After another 100 m the path turns to a southeast direction and leads in 350m first to the edge of a forest before it turn in a southern direction. After 120 m Tangeln 1 lies about 60 m to the left. To visit Tangeln 7 continue for further 70 m on this path, until you reach a small crossing with path leading to the left in a southeast direction. Following this path for about 100 m until you see a mound, about 20 m to the right of the path. Tangeln 7 lies within this mound.

Visited April 2019

taken from wikipedia:

The six tombs are located in a forest near Tangeln and Mellin. After older investigations by Johann Friedrich Danneil (1843), Eduard Krause and Otto Schoetensack (1893) as well as Wilhelm Blasius (1904) there were originally at least two more tombs (tomb 2 and tomb 3). In a new recording in 2003 of these, however, no traces were found. According to an inhabitant, these seemed to have been destroyed by the new forest owners in mid-1990s. In return, however, another tomb was discovered in 2006, which had not been mentioned by the researchers of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

This over one meter large stone has several very large and deep cups. In size, depth and shape, these cups differ significantly from those on other stones in the Altmark region. This stone should not be a former capstone of a megalithic tomb. Presumably, the grooves were expanded by human hands to cupss and are more of natural origin. This does not exclude the usage as a cult stone (as the name Siedengriebener Butterstein [=butter stone] suggest).

The stone lies in the grounds of Burg Beetzendorf. From the parking lot to the castle park and hotel Beverhol you go to the castle ruins. Before leaving the ruins, leave the main path to the left and follow the path leading past the open-air stage. After a small hill, before reaching a pond, the stone is on the right side.

Visited April 2019

Only three stones from this site are preserved. The first one (menhir 1) stands directly in front of the south side of the churchyard wall. It is plate-shaped and tapers upwards. It consists of black-gray sedimentary rocks and has a height of 1.26 m, a width of 0.85 m and a thickness of 0.45 m. On the north side it has a series of very wide and deep cups.

Menhir 2 is 12 meters to the east. He leans against a modern stone pillar and is partially cemented. The menhir is edged and has a rectangular cross-section. It consists of red granite and has a height of 1.58 m, a width of 0.72 m and a thickness of 0.40 m.

Menhir 3 is located 26 meters northwest of menhir 2 just outside the church. He is block-shaped and strongly inclined. It consists of reddish sedimentary rocks and has a height of 1.25 m, a width of 0.75 m and a thickness of 0.45 m.

According to the on site plan, there once was a fourth stone until 1992. The stone stood about 8 meters east of menhir 2 and formed a row with this and menhir 1.

It is believed that both the church construction, as well as the course of the village street follows the westeastern alignment of the old row of stones (menhir 1, 2 and 4). An imaginary line of menhir 1 and 3 runs approximately through the altar of the church. Originally there were more stones, even an interpretation as a stone circle would be plausible.

The church with the menhirs lies right in the middle of the village right off the B71 road.

Visited April 2019

Lüge is a grand dolmen consisting of three pairs of supporting stones and a double oval enclosure. The current state of preservation is very poor. The tomb and the mound are completely destroyed due to the removal of the stones and the illegal excavations. Only three wall stones of the chamber are preserved, all enclosure stones are completely missing. The original structure of the northeast-southwest-oriented complex is no longer recognizable.

Drive from Ladekath in the direction of Winterfeld. Directly behind Ladekath the road makes a right bend. Here you continue straight on the small cobblestone road. This eventually becomes a field and forest path that leads to Lüge. After 1.2 kilometers a path turns right. Follow this road and after 350 meters you will reach the remains of the tomb, which lies about 70 m to the right of the forest track. For the way described, a semi-off-road suitable car is recommended.

Only for real enthusiasts and/or completists.

Visited April 2019

Bretsch 2 is a grand dolmen consisting of four pairs of supporting stones and a rectangular enclosure. The current state of preservation is good. The enclosure as well as the chamber are north-northeast-south-southwest oriented. The enclosure is 13.5 m long and around 7 m wide, twentythree enclosure stones are preserved. The chamber lies in the middle of th enclosure and meassures 5 m x 1m. Eight of formerly ten support stones and all four capstones are either complete or partially preserved. Two capstones lie on the chamber stones; north of the chamber is a displaced sunken capstone. On the southern capstone are four round cups, on the surface of the outer capstone at least eight.

Drive on the L12 from Bretsch towards Drüsedau. About 600 m behind the village exist, the tomb lies north (on your left) of the road, approximately 200 m in the field under a group of trees. That means a visit should only be made if the field is lying fallow. Park the car 100 m onwards on the road right before a left turn on the right side.

Visited April 2019

Bretsch 1 is a grand dolmen consisting of four pairs of supporting stones and likely a rectangular enclosure. The current state of preservation is moderate, a number of capstones are missing, the enclosure stones are only partly in their original position and the chamber is severely disturbed. The enclosure is northeast-southwest orientated and 25 m long and 7.5 m wide. At least thirtyone stones are preserved. The chamber is also northeast-southwest orientated and lies in the middle of the enclosure. It measures 6.1 m x 1.7 m. Eleven wall stones and three complete as well as fragments of two other capstones are preserved, one of them broken, another is north of the enclosure.

Drive on the L12 from Bretsch towards Drüsedau. Pass Bretsch 2 (on your left), then the road makes a slight left-hand bend. The tomb lies about 200 m behind the left-hand bend, only 20 m to the right of the road. You can park your car either at the left-hand bend or in the grass strip right at the tomb.

Visited April 2019