Andy Burnham's Blog, page 156

Hügelgrab am Weitenbruchsmoor

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Despite the agricultural use of the area, this tumulus is in an exceptionally good condition and is still impressive in size and height.
On the old Prussian maps, several still existing tumuli can be seen here, so that this tumulus is also to be regarded as the last of a larger group.

Announcing the Megalithic Portal photo competition winners for June to Dec 2019

Continuing the catching-up of our photo competitions, we are delighted to announce the winners for the best images submitted to the Megalithic Portal in the second half of the year 2019 - voted for by you our visitors and contributors. Votes are still being counted on all photos submitted since then and we will be announcing more winners soon.
1st Prize: Men-An-Tol by Cromagnonman
2nd Prize: Crec'h Quillé by w650marion
3rd Prize: Pentre Ifan by woodini254
View the photos below.

Heaven Stone

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Heaven Stone is a prehistoric stone in the graveyard of Trumpan Church on the edge of Waternish Peninsula on the the Isle of Skye. The rough stone is around 1.4m (4 ft 8 inches) high with a hole 4cm (1.5 inches) in diameter on the W face c. 20cm (8 inches) from the top of the stone. The stone has many names relating to the tradition in which it plays a central part. Heaven Stone, Trial Stone and Priest’s Stone come from the story that a person accused of lying would be led up to the stone and blindfolded. They would then attempt to insert a finger directly into the hole. If they succeeded they were telling the truth and Heaven awaited them. If however they failed they were lying and a warmer fate was their destiny.

Dolmen de Lannidult

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In Finistère, this is a strange site in that is difficult to work out how many structures were here. While there is the dolmen itself, which appears to just be the chamber remaining under a single capstone with 3 uprights, right behind it at ground level are two huge chunky capstones at ground level. Whether these were dragged and dropped to make some kind of pavement or whether they are the roof of an underground chamber (like Mané-Kerioned Dolmen in the Carnac area-that has two levels) can't be discerned without excavation.

Høgkleiva

The hillfort at Høgkleiva has one of the most beautiful and impressive views of any hillfort I have visitedFrom the top there is a wonderful view over the Gudbrandsdalen valley and the Lågen river! The top of Høgkleiva is a rocky forest covered hilltop or rock outcrop on the east side of the Gudbrandsdalen valley and is 406 metres above sea level making this the highest hillfort I have visited.

Dræby Jættestue

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A passage Grave in Munkebo, located in a public park. The chamber is free standing without any capstones. There are now 4 stones in the north, 2 in the south and 2 in the east. Chamber size East to West is 4 x 2,5 m.

Windy Post Cross

To the north west of Feather Tor stands an ancient and rugged granite cross known as either the Beckamoor Cross or more romantically the Windy Post and Windy Stone. For centuries this lone cross has stood upon the bleak moorland with just the murmuring Grimstone and Sortridge leat for company.

Hagg End Cairnfield

A small cairnfield on the western edge of Spaunton Moor just above Hagg End in Farndale. Consisting mainly of clearance cairns except for the south west corner where there is a round barrow (RB1) and two cairns (C1 & C2), with C2 possibly being used for a burial. There is also a small standing stone (SS1).

Bluefish Caves

A group of three caves in Yukon Territory which contained stone and bone tools and apparently butchered horse, bison, and caribou. The oldest evidence (widely accepted) dates to around 13,000 years, probably belonging to the palaeoarctic culture. Lower layers of artifacts go back as far as 25,000 years, but with very limited evidence of human presence - difficult to clearly interpret and obviously controversial. Photo: The Bluefish Caves exhibit at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre in Whitehorse.

Jostu-Geiteneset

On a hilltop overlooking the Trondheimsfjord to the east is a pretty barrow cemetery with seven iron age burial cairns. The cemetery is covered only with moss and all the cairns are easily visible with most of the stones bare and no vegetation at all. Two of the cairns have been restored in recent years.