Hallonge

Hallonge is a Bronze Age burial mound that rises from farmland near Kölleda in Thuringia and marks an important prehistoric burial site. The mound contains a total of seventeen graves and is surrounded by additional archaeological findings in the area.

The mound was created in the Bronze Age and later graves from the 6th and 7th centuries were dug there, showing a long history of use at this location. Excavations between 2017 and 2021 documented continuous human settlement over more than 4,000 years in this area.

The burial ground dates to the 6th and 7th centuries and reveals through Mediterranean finds the far-reaching trade connections of that era. The graves show much about the lifestyle and social structures of the people who lived then.

The site sits in open farmland and is reachable on foot via unpaved paths from Kölleda, a walk of roughly 1 to 2 hours depending on starting point. Visitors should wear weather-resistant clothing since the ground is exposed and can become muddy in rain.

Eleven graves contained the remains of horses that were ritually beheaded and buried alongside high-ranking Frankish individuals. This practice was reserved for certain social classes and reveals the importance placed on these burials.