Cist of Rijs

The Cist of Rijs is a burial chamber built from large granite blocks positioned in the Rysterbosk area and set into the ground. It has a rectangular shape designed to hold human remains from thousands of years ago.

This burial chamber was built in the Stone Age when early communities in northern Europe began creating permanent graves. It belongs to the Funnel Beaker culture, a group that spread across a wide area and shared burial practices.

The burial chamber reflects how early communities honored their deceased and what they believed about the afterlife. Such structures show us the values and social bonds that held these ancient societies together.

The site sits in an open field and is easy to approach on foot from nearby paths. Visit during warmer months when the ground is dry and the surrounding area is most pleasant to walk through.

Sand deposits surrounding the stone chamber reveal how much the landscape has changed since its construction thousands of years ago. These layers tell a story of environmental shifts that reshaped the region over long periods.

Location: De Fryske Marren

GPS coordinates: 52.85541,5.48827

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:20