Kong Svends Høj

Facts

Twin stones in the burial mound

By Svend Illum Hansen , Bachelor i forhistorisk arkæologi Konservator Tagdækker Sømand (13 stories)

The 11-metre-long passage grave called Kong Svends Høj (King Svend's Mound") on the island of Lolland is enclosed in a large rectangular mound and surrounded by large kerbstones. The tallest of these is four metres high. The passage grave was constructed circa 3200 BC by artisans capable of splitting the large load-bearing stones inside the chamber. These split megaliths are referred to as "twin stones". Kong Svends Høj contains at least 10 twin stones set opposite or next to each other in the chamber structure. Not until 1942 was the entrance to the passage grave found. Contrary to the usual structure, the entrance faced west rather than east. "

Public place

Selected entry

A prime minister archeologist

Story written by Svend Illum Hansen

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In the summer of 1780, Prime Minister, Count Reventlow (1748-1827) was visited by one Frederik Münter, a 19-year-old student of theology. The young Frederik was very interested in prehistoric finds, and together with the count undertook a dig in the passage grave. This is one of the earliest recorded investigations of a grave mound in Denmark. Münter was later to be the prime mover for the creation of the Antiquities Commission in 1807 and subsequently the National Museum of Denmark. In 1941, 1973 and 1991 further studies and restoration work were carried out in the passage grave, and new information about the grave and its construction came to light. A row of stones under the mound revealed a surveying system used in constructing the passage grave.