Nucleus

The Hexenstein (Witch stone) lies northwest of Neerstedt. Drive north out of Neerstedt on the Kirchhatter Straße for about 650m, turn left into Schinkenweg. After about 900m there is a field track on the right going straight northwards, walk this track. The “Hexenstein” lies signposted after about 150m in the field to the left.

It is a huge boulder made of reddish Scandinavian granite. The stone is anchored deep in the ground, so that the visible height (1.2 m) reveals only a fraction of the actual dimensions. It has three large and about 30 smaller depressions on the surface.

Visited July 2018

taken from the “Faszination Archäologie” information board:

“Hexenstein
dimensions: approx. 4.30 x 3.10m

The “Hexenstein” (witch stone) formed from Scandinavian Granite has long since been a mystery to research: until today, the original function of the clearly man-made three larger and about 30 smaller cup-like depressions can not be explained scientifically. Interpretive approaches, according to which the cups represent astronomical signs or hollows for offerings, lack any scientific basis. Not even the date is secure. Dates dating from the late Neolithic or Bronze Age are based on pure speculation.
The “Hexenstein” got its name from a folklore narrative: Afterwards the three large notches are to be read as traces of a spinning wheel, which was deposited here long ago in St. John’s Eve by witches. According to another story, the stone served as the residence of small gophers, who used the cups as food bowls.

The Oldenburger Landesverein für Geschichte, Natur- und Heimatkunde has acquired the stone with the property in order to protect it from damage and secure it for posterity.

Stenum is the the northernmost station of the “Route of Megalithic Culture” (Straße der Megelithkultur) and lies very beautiful under oak trees on a small hill, but the grave itself is unfortunately badly destroyed. The tomb is located in Stenum on the road “Am Hünengrab”, it is signposted and there is also a small parking space.

There are still numerous support stones, although some moved slightly and several stones are completely shifted. Two capstones are still preserved. The southwestern part of the tomb is destroyed.

Visited July 2018

taken from the “Faszination Archäologie” information board:

Neolithic tomb

Despite its fragmentary state of preservation, the approximately 5,000-year-old Stenumer megalithic tomb offers an impressive overall picture that gives a good idea of the original layout.

Testimony of sedentary life
Megalithic tombs like “Stenum” are considered the oldest surviving structures of northern Central Europe. Until the fourth millennium BC only hunters and gatherers lived in the Wildeshauser Geest. Only the “funnel beaker culture” (about 3500 – 2700 BC) settled down permanently.

They bred cattle, planted grain and lived in post constructions. Presumably, they believed in an otherworldly life and therefore built their deceased sometimes monumental graves of boulders. Those megalithic graves or megalithic tombs (Greek: mega = large, lithos = stone) were erected not for individuals, but for groups and used over many generations.

Steinkimmen 3 is only for the completist, as it is heavily destroyed and just a few stones are all that remains.

To reach the site, turn right immediatly after you left the Kümmerlandstraße into Bergedorfer Landstraße. Park you car here and walk left along a field track towards a row of trees for about 250m, after you reach the trees continue on that track for another 250m. The tomb is on the left, just before you reach a pond.

Visited July 2018

About northeast of Steinkimmen 2 lies Steinkimmen 1, which is relatively heavily destroyed, but you can still see the shape of the 18 m long northwest-southeast oriented burial chamber. One of the two preserved capstones is very large and is located at the eastern end slipped off in front of the tomb.

Steinkimmen 1 is station 32b of the Straße der Megalithkultur and is signposted from Steinkimmen 2.

Visited July 2018

This is the best preserved of the three megalithic tombs here in Steinkimmen. It is station 32a of the Straße der Megalithkultur and is located directly on a parking space on the road to Bergedorf.

Although only one capstone has been preserved in original position, the 23 x 2 m large chamber is still impressive. Almost all supporting stones are preserved, also the two endstones of the narrow sides. Well preserved and marked by four supporting stones is the access to the chamber. From the oval enclosure only 14 stones are visible.

Visited July 2018