Houdorf

Two ancient round barrows (rundhøje) are located in Margretelund Skov, Svendborg Municipality, which are under the care of Arkæologi Sydfyn. Both monuments are dated to the bronze age. They have been formally protected since 1937 or later, with their protected status officially registered in 1947.

Round Barrow 1 (Lokalitetsnr. 090513-1)
This mound measures approximately 1.5 to 1.6 meters in height and has a diameter of 15 to 16 meters. Historical records from 1918 and 1947 note the presence of two curb stones (randsten) visible on the western side and traces of small excavations at the top. While the site experienced some damage or vandalism in the early 20th century, a 2016 inspection described it as nice and well-preserved.

Round Barrow 2 (Lokalitetsnr. 090513-2)
Located immediately southwest of the first barrow, this is a smaller “low mound” with a height of 1 meter and a diameter of 11 meters. Early surveys in 1918 mentioned a furrow running across its northern side, but the mound was otherwise considered well-preserved. The most recent inspection in 2016 confirmed it remains a visible and well-preserved ancient monument.

In 1983, inspectors found that beech trees had been illegally planted directly on both mounds and within their 5-meter protection zones. At that time, the owner was in negotiations regarding the removal of these trees to protect the integrity of the barrows. While the mounds were covered in grass and scrub in 1983, they are now primarily situated within a beech forest.
A large stone is located a short distance from the largest mound, near a path that runs through the forest.

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kulturarv.dk/fundogfortidsminder/Lokalitet/9085/

Bjerreby Jættestue, also known as Dyssekamre at Bjergby or Skebjerg, is a well-visited ancient monument located on Langeland, about halfway between Simmerbølle and Tullebølle. The site is a long dolmen from the Neolithic Age, more specifically from the Funnel Beaker culture around 3500-2800 BC, which corresponds to the Neolithic period about 5100-5500 years ago.

The dolmen is a large burial mound measuring about 20 meters in length and 10-15 meters in width and is oriented east-west. The mound contains two burial chambers, each with its own passage.
The northeastern chamber has two cover stones, one of which is slightly offset. On this offset cover stone there are at least 12 small round depressions, called bowl pits, which are believed to have been added in the Bronze Age and probably had a magical or religious meaning. The chamber consists of 11 bearing stones (two of which are partially overturned) and a 1.8-meter-long passage to the southeast.

The southwestern chamber has a single capstone, which has fallen into the chamber and is partially lying on the ground. It is somewhat special that an oak tree has grown up in the middle of this chamber, which otherwise consists of eight bearing stones and a 2-meter-long passage to the southeast with two bearing stones on each side.

No archaeological excavations have been carried out of the dolmen itself. However, it is assumed that long dolmens such as Bjerreby Jættestue served as burial monuments for local families and heads of clans. The site is easily accessible with good parking nearby and is signposted from the road between Rudkøbing and Spodsbjerg. Although there are no preserved curbstones, Bjerreby Jættestue with its two chambers is an iconic example of Danish dolmens.

Contrary to custom, I did not visit the place on a sunny day, but rather on a rainy day in the fall of 2024.

The Hulbjerg Jættestue (Hulbjerg Passage Grave) is recognized as Langeland’s finest and best-preserved passage grave. It is situated on the southern end of the island of Langeland, near Bagenkop. This megalithic structure is an ancient monument with special cultural heritage, located within the UNESCO Global Geopark Det Sydfynske Øhav.

The Hulbjerg Passage Grave dates back 5,000 years, specifically to 3300–3200 BCE, placing it within the Neolithic Funnelbeaker culture. It served as a collective grave and ritual site.

The grave is set in a round barrow, approximately 20 to 21 meters in diameter and 2.5 meters high, framed by a ring of kerbstones and dry stone walling (tørmurstætninger).
The rectangular grave chamber measures 6.5 x 2 meters and is supported by 13 upright bearing stones. While the ceiling originally had five large rock slabs, only three remain, with the missing sections replaced by granite beams during restoration. The floor is paved with flat stones. A notable feature is the 5-meter long passageway that opens on the east side of the mound. Visitors must crawl to enter the grave due to the low passage. The passage has two doorframes, and a large flat stone at the entry may have functioned as a door.

The grave was excavated in 1960–1961 by Håkon Berg of the Langeland Museum.
The site has undergone restorations in subsequent years, including 1990, 2010, and 2023

The passage grave was used for over 1,000 years, with the oldest bones dating back 5,000 years and the youngest from the beginning of the Bronze Age, around 1700 BCE.
Over 2,000 human bones were discovered, corresponding to at least 36 adults and 17 children. The bones were found scattered and partially sorted, indicating that older remains were moved aside to make space for new burials. Analysis revealed that the men had an average height of 172 cm, and the women averaged 157 cm. Grave goods recovered from the passage and chamber included pottery (decorated ceramics), flint tools, weapons, arrowheads, and amber beads.

The Hulbjerg Jættestue is particularly famous for discoveries related to early surgical and dental procedures:

Trepanation.
One skull found has a trepanation hole in the left side of the forehead, indicating an operation where part of the cranial wall was removed.
This procedure was potentially related to treating combat wounds or possibly ritual practice. Crucially, the edges of the hole were healed, demonstrating that the individual, possibly referred to as the “Hulbjerg man,” survived the operation. Only about 10 to 13 trepanned skulls from the Neolithic period are known in Denmark.

Oldest Dental Drilling in Denmark.
A molar tooth belonging to a 35–50-year-old man shows a 4 mm wide and 6 mm deep hole, which was drilled using a flint point drill.
This intervention, considered the earliest known record of dental treatment and the only one known from antiquity in Denmark, was performed to relieve pain caused by severe caries and chronic inflammation/abscess. The presence of tartar on the bore hole shows that the patient survived for a period after the procedure.

The excavated objects, including the significant skulls, are on display at the Langeland Museum in Rudkøbing.

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A Bronze Age stone with cup-shaped pitting is located in the west facade of the tower of this Danish church, During the 1884 restoration, the stone could not be removed due to concerns for the tower’s stability. When the facade was moved forward, the stone was almost hidden, so a hole was created to keep it visible. Initially, the stone was believed lost, prompting a search that yielded no results. Later, a showcase was placed over the hole, leading to the stone’s existence being forgotten until its rediscovery in 2004, making it visible once more.

The stone is to the left of the main entrance, above the plinth.

Source:
The book “Kirkerne i Svendborg. Vor Frue Kirke”
Danmarks kirker. Bind 10. Svendborg Amt 1, 4. hefte.
by Marianne Goral Krogh Johansen and Rikke Ilsted Kristiansen
Nationalmuseet 2012
ISBN 978-87-7602-178-8

The Græsholmene dolmen, located in the Græsholmene forest in Svendborg, is a Stone Age long dolmen, with its origins dating between 3950 and 2800 BC. The site was reconnoitered by Svendborg Museum in March 2011 as part of a museum reconnaissance, under journal number SOM 427.

The archaeological complex consists of a 30-meter (North-South) by 11-meter (East-West) earth mound, which is 0.6 meters high. It features a collection of large stones arranged in two groups, alongside other large stones situated individually but in close proximity to the main groups. Smaller stones are found along the long sides of the mound, with larger stones concentrated at its northern and southern ends. The largest stone in the northern end measures 170 x 110 cm, while the largest in the southern end is 190 x 150 cm.

Archaeologists believe these are likely the remains of two chambers. A significant discovery during the investigation involved a fallen tree in the southern stone collection, which exposed a bearing stone. From the disturbed soil immediately west of this bearing stone, four flint flakes were collected. Moss grows on many of the stones, and a small earth mound is present near one of the stone groups. The entire complex is easily accessible from a main forest road via a side road. The responsible museum for this site is Arkæologi Sydfyn (Svendborg Museum).

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The archaeological site known as Ballen Rundhøj, located in the Svendborg Municipality, consists of a Stone Age round barrow and dolmen dating from 3950 to 2800 BC. The site has been officially protected since 1937 or later and is currently under the responsibility of Arkæologi Sydfyn.

The Mound and Curbstones: The monument features a mound approximately 1 meter high with a diameter of 12 meters. It is encircled by roughly 12 curbstones, though historical records suggest that not all of these stones are original to the site.
The Burial Chamber: At the top of the mound sits a burial chamber oriented East-West. It was constructed using four stones, each about 90 cm high. While a 1947 survey estimated the internal dimensions to be 1.20 meters by 0.60 meters, a subsequent 1983 inspection measured them at 1.4 meters by 0.7 meters.
Current State: The capstone is missing. Additionally, the northern side stone has been displaced from its original position.

The site has undergone several recorded inspections and changes over the last century:
1918: Vandalism or damage was reported by the National Museum.
1947: A private restoration occurred. During this period, the owner noted that his father had installed the eastern stone in modern times. There was also a correction to older records; a southern stone previously thought missing was confirmed to be in its original place.
1983: Experts suggested that the current chamber might be the northern remains of a larger, older structure that was partially removed in the past.
Recent Status: Inspections in 1997 and 2015 confirmed the site remains as described in earlier records.

The monument is situated in a forested area and is frequently overgrown with bushes and deciduous trees, which the owner clears periodically. Notably, the surrounding forest contains exceptionally well-preserved ridge and furrow fields (højryggede agre), which are historical farming traces that extend directly to the foot of the dolmen. Additionally, there is a lookout tower located near the ancient monument.

To understand the preservation of this site, one might compare it to a vintage car that has had its roof removed and a few modern parts added to the engine; while it is no longer in its original factory condition, its core structure still provides a clear and valuable window into the era in which it was built.

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The area at Gammel Hestehave in Svendborg has a long history of settlement, dating back 5000 years to the first coastal settlements. Later, in the late Younger Stone Age (1900-1700 BC) and the Elder Bronze Age (1700-1100 BC), settlements moved inland. The Elder Bronze Age is particularly significant, with a grave field of 23 larger and smaller burial mounds established during this period. These mounds were part of a community and were highly visible from surrounding areas like Thurø, Tåsinge, and Svendborgsund, standing out monumentally in what was then open land.

The specific mound mentioned here is a round barrow dating to prehistory times. It is a national landmark located in Svendborg. The mound is situated besides a house, and is visible from a municipal road, Hallindskovvej. Its dimensions were recorded differently over time, initially 3.8 x 26 m and later as a monumental large mound, 3.4 x 21.5 x 14.0 m. It is currently heavily overgrown. A large tree stands on the side of the mound.

The base of the mound has been partly dug away, standing as a roughly 50 cm scarp towards the east or about a 0.6 m high stone setting in the north, east, and south. Several old buildings are located close to the mound’s base. A larger stone stands at one corner towards the road. A concrete pipe is noted on the top. The surface, especially near the top, has been significantly damaged by “rabbit-hole-like” digging, likely from children seeking treasure, as indicated by a child-sized shovel and spade found nearby. A fragment of a Roman-era urn was also collected from a soil pile at the digging site.

The site has undergone various historical activities and surveys, including grave activity in 1947, museum surveys in 1947 and 1983, and periodic monitoring in 2009 and 2019. It was registered in 1947 and re-surveyed in 1983 when its condition was detailed. It was designated a monument of national importance in 2010 and new signage was installed. It is a protected site, having been granted protected status in 1937 or later. Arkæologi Sydfyn is the responsible museum.

The house, which is located next to the burial mound, is notable for a bicycle path that goes through the house, which is then built across the bicycle path.

The Vester Aaby site in the Faaborg-Midtfyn municipality features a significant ancient round barrow, locally known as Storehøjen, which has been protected since before 1937. This monumental structure dates from stone age/bronze age.

It is described as a very large, monumental mound, possibly megalithic. Its dimensions have been recorded variously as 4-4.5 x 28-29 meters, 93 feet in diameter and 11 feet high, and more recently as 4.7 meters high with diameters of 28.7 x 26.5 meters.

Storehøjen has undergone extensive transformation, having been repurposed as a viewing mound within a pleasure garden. Historical surveys document these changes:

An 1885 survey noted a path, a stone-set cut-out on the south side, and a stone fence around the middle of the mound, enclosing planted areas and pathways.

By 1947, a path and a large stone-set cut-out with stone walls on the south side were reiterated, along with a modern stone fence (1.25-1.75 meters above the base and up to 0.80 meters high) encircling most of the mound.

A 1983 survey observed a completely encircling, stone-set terrace at approximately 2 meters height, which functioned as a viewing area. This terracing, particularly in the north, is now significantly damaged due to traffic, play, or vandalism, with stones toppled onto the surrounding lawn. Another terracing was likely present closer to the top, possibly an observation platform that once held benches, now long gone. The mound is covered with grass and deciduous trees, including a ring of large, old elm trees on the lower terrace. A bench is also situated right next to the mound.

At the base of Storehøjen, numerous large stones (over 0.6 meters in size) are visible all around. These are believed to be randsten (curb stones) from a large Stone Age grave, potentially a runddysse (round mound). Randsten are rows of stones that typically enclose a burial chamber, and in the case of a runddysse, they are arranged in a circular formation. Stone Age people were skilled builders, using flint axes and wooden levers to construct these solid megalithic graves, many of which are still visible over 5000 years later. These graves often included at least one stone burial chamber, frequently covered by a large capstone, with later designs incorporating passages to access the grave without moving the capstone. However, the exact origin of the stones and the nature of the grave remain unconfirmed as the mound has never been excavated. The site has been subject to various surveys and supervisions by institutions such as the Nationalmuseet and Museum Odense, with records dating back to 1885.