Megalithic tombs in Haldensleben Forest

Teufelsküche ("Devil's Kitchen")

Shown within Germany

Location| Haldensleben, Saxony-Anhalt
Coordinates| 52°16′30.6″N 11°23′0.9″E﻿ / ﻿52.275167°N 11.383583°E﻿ / 52.275167; 11.383583
History
Periods| Neolithic
c. 3500 to 3000 BC

The Megalithic tombs in Haldensleben Forest are a group of more than 80 megalithic tombs of the Neolithic Age, near Haldensleben, about 22 kilometres (14 mi) north-west of Magdeburg, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

## Description

[edit]

The group of Neolithic graves in the forest south-west of Haldensleben is the largest concentration of megalithic tombs in central Europe. In an area of about 5 by 5 kilometres, there are more than 80 graves, some in good condition. The location of about 50 more graves are known; some have been destroyed, or consist of one stone or loosely scattered stones.[1][2][3][4]

They date from the period 3500 to 3000 BC, and are in recognizable groups. They are mostly passage graves, built from granite boulders. The burial chambers are aligned east–west.[1][3]

### Notable graves

[edit]

Three graves are of particular interest:[4]

At the Küchentannen ("kitchen fir trees") at 52°16′17.90″N 11°20′35.44″E﻿ / ﻿52.2716389°N 11.3431778°E﻿ / 52.2716389; 11.3431778 there is a reconstructed, enclosed passage grave.[5]

The Kaisergrab ("king's grave") at 52°16′28.70″N 11°20′43.96″E﻿ / ﻿52.2746389°N 11.3455444°E﻿ / 52.2746389; 11.3455444 has an almost completely preserved burial chamber and surrounding setting of stones.[6]

The Teufelsküche ("devil's kitchen") at 52°16′30.70″N 11°23′01.80″E﻿ / ﻿52.2751944°N 11.3838333°E﻿ / 52.2751944; 11.3838333 has a well-preserved passage grave with two capstones and eight supporting stones.[7]

## References

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Großsteingräber im Haldensleber Forst.

1. ^ a b "Megalithen im Haldenslebener Forst" Region Braunschweig Ostfalen. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
2. ^ "Die historische Quadratmeile im Haldenslebener Forst bei Magdeburg" Großsteingräber und Megalithbauwerke. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
3. ^ a b "Megalithgräber und Menhire in Sachsen-Anhalt" strahlen.org. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
4. ^ a b "Die Hünengräber im Haldensleber Forst" Regio MD Retrieved 9 March 2022.
5. ^ "Das Großsteingrab Nr. 34 (Küchentannen)" Großsteingräber und Megalithbauwerke. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
6. ^ "Das Großsteingrab Nr. 23 (Kaisergrab)" Großsteingräber und Megalithbauwerke. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
7. ^ "Das Großsteingrab Nr. 56 (Teufelsküche)" Großsteingräber und Megalithbauwerke. Retrieved 9 March 2022.