Moving Stones 2017
30 April 2017 marks the 4th European Day of Megalithic Culture. Highlight of the Megalithic Routes Association, our members show off their megaliths in different regions in Europe. We celebrate Megalithic cultures in many aspects. This year, the theme is “moving stones”. We still do not know how Stone Age people moved the large boulders which were deposited here by the Ice Age glaciers about 200,000 years ago. If it were not the Old Huns or the Devil, how did people back in the past really move these stones?
Jeggen, Germany
An example is the small village Jeggen, Bissendorf Municipality, Germany. This is the location of a megalithic monument of over 5,000 years old. Under the phrase “moving stones” a large rock of about 2.5 tons will be moved on 30 April with the help of school children. Besides moving stones, there will be a Stone Age Festival for children and families. There will be a Stone Age Snack corner and many activities one can take part in at no costs. Please see the PDF flyer from Jeggen 2017 European Day of Megalithic Culture.
Sobrarbe-Pirineos UNESCO World Geopark in Spain
At the Day of Megalithic Culture, Sobrarbe-Pirineos UNESCO World Geopark in Spain organizes a tour guided by the “Three Dólmenes Route”, in the municipal terms of Aínsa-Sobrarbe and Bárcabo. The entire route runs through a doubly protected space, as it is part of the Sierra and Guara Canyons Natural Park, and the Rio Vero Cultural Park. Nearby is the exceptional Rock Art collection of the Rio Vero Canyon, declared World Heritage by UNESCO. The route allows to visit three megalithic monuments: Dolmen of the Balanzas or of Almazorre, Dolmen of the Capilleta and Dolmen of Pueyoril. The activity will consist of a guided tour and interpreted by Nacho Pardinilla Bentué, Heritage Technician of the Region of Sobrarbe. Departure point: parking located next to the information point of the Natural Park of Sierra and Canyons of Guara, a few meters from the deviation to Paúles de Sarsa, on the A-2205 road (between Arcusa and Bárcabo). Staring at 9:30h, total duration of the activity; 4h 30 min. Length of the route: approximately 10 km in total.Type of route: circular. It transits by roads and some stretch of path somewhat stony. Difficulty: low. Recommended age: from 10 years, taking into account the length of the route and the type of road.The activity is free. Recommendations: it is necessary to bring mountain shoes, sun protection, water and some food.
Registration through the official website. Please see also the PDF flyer.
Archaeological-Ecological Centre at Albersdorf, Germany
The Archaeological-Ecological Centre at Albersdorf (Germany) celebrates the 4th European Day of Megalithic Culture under the header of mobility and transport in the Stone Age. On Sunday 30 April the centre organises special guided tours about megaliths and how people moved these stones (14:00h and 15:00h). There is also a workshop making jewellery form the Times of the Megalithic Builders (11:00h – 17:00h). The Stone Age farmer will discuss about mobility and transport in the Neolithic Era (11:00h – 17:00h). The Stone Age hunter will be active this day and observe the farmers from a distance…
Besides this, there is a new map for people wanting to walk, made with help of AktivRegion Dithmarschen. This map shows the megalithic graves in the Albersdorf Region and is available on this day for the first time, and free, at the service building of the Albersdorf Archaeological-Ecological Centre.
Altertumskommission for Westphalia, Germany
The Altertumskommission for Westphalia invites to the 4th European Day of Megalithic Culture: “Moving Stones” at the Grosse Sloopsteene in Lotte-Wersen (close to Osnabrück, Germany) on Sunday 30 April 2017, 10:00h – 17:00h. The event is in cooperation with Kultur- & Heimatverein Westerkappeln e.V. and the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität in Münster. See the PDF flyer from 2017 event.
Månehøj, Svinøvester, Denmark
The European Day of Megalithic Culture will be celebrated in Denmark too. Too be more precise, an event will take place at the passage grave Månehøj, Svinøvester, 4750 Lundby (DK). The Association Denmark’s Megalitcenter will not make practical move exercises to lift and move boulders. In return, they ask the question: How could people for over 5000 years since moving boulders weighing 5 to 10 tonnes from a field – transport them 20 km over rivers – and then they got the stones dragged up on a hill and built megalithic monuments? On Sunday, April 30 we will visit a double the passage grave Månehøj in Svinøvester. The two burial chambers with each entry were constructed 5200 years ago. The Association Denmark’s Megalitcenter invites members and interested to bring coffee along and enjoy the beautiful area. Everyone is welcome.
Falbygdens museum, Sweden
On the Eve of Valborg Mass Falbygdens museum in Sweden joins the international Megalithic Day. Together with colleagues from all over Europe we show our common Stone Age Culture. Discover Falköping from 5000 years ago! Discover the Stone Age in the middle of Falköping. Start at the Falbygden Museum for a hiking trail between 11:00h and 15:00h. A guided tour to some of the city’s archaeological remains starts at the Falbygden Museum at 12:00h. Calculate the weight of the stones or try to move the stone in Stone Age ways. We offer fruit soup to all fighters! Starting at the Kyrkerörsgånggriften i Plantis, 11:00h – 15:00h. Do not miss the traditional spring speech at Plantis at 15:00h! Free entrance. Warm welcome!
Portugal Megalithic Project
The European Day of Megalithic Culture will be celebrated in Portugal through an initiative of the Portugal Megalithic Project, an online community platform for the disclosure of the megalithic heritage in Portugal. The program of activities takes place simultaneously with the 1st Meeting of the project and includes guided tours to some of the megalithic monuments of Pavia (including the interesting Dolmen / Chapel of S. Dinis) and also to the new Interactive Megalithic Museum of Mora. The Portugal Megalitico community has its activities based in a Facebook page and also in a Google Map where they are locating the most important megalithic monuments in Portugal.
Hunebedcentrum in Borger, Netherlands
The European Day of Megalithic Culture is celebrated at the Hunebedcentrum in Borger (the Netherlands) as well. The Hunebedcentrum developed a programme in cooperation with students by the title “the Megalithic Games”. Visitors can follow a track with different prehistoric activities including throwing spears and shooting with bow and arrow. An attempt will also be made to transport a megalith. The activities take place between 11:00h and 16:00h at the Hunebedcentrum in Borger (NL).
Rutes Megalítiques de la Costa Brava, Spain
In Catalonia, Spain, the Rutes Megalítiques de la Costa Brava organises two hiking tours and an exhibition to celebrate European day of Megalithic Culture.
Their first hiking tour is about the megalithic culture at Les Gavarres: la Serra d’en Calç and starts on Sunday 30 April at 9:30h at the BP gas station of Vulpellac. Please register by phoning (+34) 972 64 36 95. Taking part is free. Main organiser is Consorci de Gavarres.
The second hiking tour follows the Megalithic Route d’Ardenya-Cadiretes. It starts on Sunday at 9:30h from al Santuari de Sant Grau d’Ardenya and takes 4:30h. Guide is Josep Santané. Registration please by email through mediambient@tossademar.org or by phone between 9:00h and 13:00h through (+34) 972342847 or (+34) 609173746. Costs are 6 EUR. Organsier is Àrea de Medi Ambient de l’Ajuntament de Tossa de Mar.
Finally, there is a Photo exhibition on megalithism in the Catalan Pyrenees or more precise about the megalithic landscape of l’Alt Empordà”, photos by Jordi Meli. The exhibition runs from 21 April to 21 May 2017 in Porxos de Can Laporta, La Jonquera. Opening times are 10:30h – 13:30h and 17:00h – 20:00h. It is organised by Consell Comarcal de l’Alt Empordà i Ajuntament de La Jonquera.
Danish Agency for Culture and Castles
The Danish Agency for Culture and Castles, in collaboration with Danish Radio’s great historical initiative “Danish Histories”, invites you to the Celebration Day of Prehistoric Monuments in the whole country. See more here: http://www.historieromdanmark.dk/fortidsmindedag.
Vestsjælland Museum offers a guided walk among visible and almost invisible past memories and cultural trails in the spring green forest of Broby Vesterskov. The tour is about 6 km long, taking about 2.5 – 3 hrs. Come and hear the story of one of Denmark’s most beautiful graveyards. Rævehøj is a conquest of the ages, and one of the kind. In the tomb one can fully stand up and admire a magnificent example of stone architecture from ancient times. The grave chamber also presents art on the walls in the form of carvings as a greeting from the people of the Bronze Age. In the Asnæs forests of Kalundborg one will find an unusually high concentration of burial mounds, probably all from the younger bronze ages. After grubbing-up, they now appear as beautiful focal points on a hike in beautiful nature.
More info: http://www.vestmuseum.dk