Rampen

Facts

One of Denmark's largest barrows

By Jørgen Westphal, Konsulent, cand. mag. (14 stories)

" The Rampen long barrow near Øster Vrå in Himmerland is one of the largest of its kind in Denmark. More than 5,500 years old and still well preserved, it is 125 metres long, up to two metres high and between 9 and 17 metres wide. This long barrow is trapezoidal; a shape seen in earlier long barrows. It was surrounded by a kerb of megaliths, most of which are regrettably missing. The eastern end of the barrow contains a stone cist – a coffin-like box with stone sides and a large stone as the lid. "

Public place

Selected entry

Tomb for the elite

Story written by Jørgen Westphal

Time / Periode -3800 -3400

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" The burial chamber inside the long barrow was most likely built as a grave for a single, important person. The chamber was not designed to be reopened, since this would have meant removing the capstone which weighs many tons. Later long barrows had burial chambers with openings for access to the mortuary for ritual purposes or for more burials. The long barrows commonly contain more than one burial chamber, and typically two or three. From what we know today, these sepulchral monuments were constructed for an elite in society; wealthy farmers, holymen or chiefs. "