Heiliger Stein, Neolithic burial site near Muschenheim, Germany
Heiliger Stein is a gallery grave with three massive ceiling stones, the central one made of conglomerate and the outer ones of quartzite. The monument measures 18 meters long and 12 meters wide and is supported by 16 pillars.
The megalithic structure dates from 3500 to 2800 BC. Later, during the 7th and 8th centuries, additional burials were made in a stone box placed inside the chamber.
The construction shows connections to ancient communities that lived in the region of present-day Burgundy. These burial practices point to exchange between different cultures during the Neolithic period.
The monument lies away from busy roads and can be reached on foot via a path from the L3131 road. Visitors should wear appropriate footwear as the ground can be uneven.
One of the three ceiling plates weighs about 7 tons and was transported from nearby Muenzenberg over an elevation difference of about 33 meters. The logistical achievement of these early builders remains impressive today.
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