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The Haldensleben Forest in Saxony-Alhalt, Germany, is home to a large concentration of Neolithic megalithic tombs. One of these monuments, known as the Küsterberg tomb, was the subject of excavations between 2010 and 2013, and was revealed to be in better condition than many others in the region. Researchers were therefore able to reconstruct many details of its original form. The tomb comprised a burial chamber oriented east–west and measuring 11m by 2m, consisting of seven huge capstones that weighed 13 tons in total, as well as 19 orthostats. This chamber sat within an enclosure c.16m long and 5m wide, formed by more than 16 megaliths standing 2m apart and connected by a low, solid wall made of dry-stone masonry. The whole construction was covered with an earthen mound, and in front of it was a paved semi-circular forecourt featuring at least three free-standing megaliths.
The tomb has been dated to the Neolithic period, c.5,500 years ago, based on its construction style and the heavily fragmented pottery found inside. Excavations also uncovered evidence that the monument was disturbed, c.3,000 years ago, in the form of a well-preserved Bronze Age bird-shaped vessel. The last traces of activity date to the Iron Age (600-200 BC). No surviving human remains were discovered.
Using information from the excavations, the tomb was returned to its original condition in spring 2025, with a little help from modern construction machinery (BELOW). The project was carried out by the city of Haldensleben in cooperation with the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt (LDA) and the Institute of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archaeology of Kiel University. It is hoped that the newly reconstructed Küsterberg tomb will inspire visitors to explore the rich heritage of this region.
Text: Amy Brunskill / Images: Barbara Fritsch
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