Poskær Stenhus

An Ancient Monument from the Stone Age

Poskær Stenhus stands as Denmark's largest round barrow, a monumental burial structure dating back approximately 5,300 years to around 3300 BC, during the Funnelbeaker culture period. The site consists of a central burial chamber with a diameter exceeding 2 metres and a ceiling height of nearly 1.8 metres, crowned by a massive capstone weighing 11 tonnes. This capstone is remarkable not only for its size but for its origin—it is half of an enormous granite slab that was transported to Denmark by Ice Age glaciers from Northern Scandinavia. The other half of this slab, weighing 19 tonnes, was placed as a capstone on another dolmen, Agri Dyssen, located 2 kilometres to the northwest.

The Circle of Stones and Their Arrangement

The burial chamber is encircled by 23 kerb stones, many of which rise more than 2.5 metres high, creating a striking geometric arrangement with a diameter of approximately 20 metres. Originally, there were 24 stones completing the circle, but one was removed in the 1890s by a stone cutter who had purchased it with the intention of cutting it into pieces for building material. Local officials intervened to stop the destruction, preserving the site as it largely remains today. Each of these massive stones weighs approximately 5 tonnes, and their precise arrangement suggests sophisticated understanding of spatial planning and ceremonial purpose among prehistoric peoples.

The Mystery of Stone Transport and Construction

One of the enduring mysteries surrounding Poskær Stenhus is how Stone Age people transported and erected these enormous granite slabs. It is believed that all the stones were originally sourced from the beach of Knebel Bay, approximately 2 kilometres west of the site. The logistics of moving multi-tonne stones across this distance and positioning them with such precision remains unknown, prompting ongoing speculation about the methods, tools, and social organization required for such an undertaking. The flat underside of the capstone is particularly remarkable, suggesting it may have been deliberately split from its larger parent stone by the dolmen builders themselves.

Rescue from Destruction and Modern Protection

The site's survival into the modern era was far from assured. In 1859, the landowner Ole Hansen, struggling to make a living from the land where the barrow stood, began dynamiting stones from the monument to sell them as building material. A local priest, recognizing the historical significance of the site, initiated a formal process to halt the destruction. This effort culminated in official protection of Poskær Stenhus in 1860, with Hansen receiving compensation of 100 rigsdaler for his loss. A broken slab bearing drill marks from the dynamiting remains visible at the site, serving as a tangible reminder of this near-catastrophic episode. The site is now protected as part of Mols Bjerge National Park, established in 2007.

Astronomical Alignment and Seasonal Significance

Poskær Stenhus is believed to be aligned with the rising sun of the summer equinox, a characteristic shared with many other megalithic stone circles across Northern Europe. At the spring equinox, observers positioned at the entrance to the burial chamber can witness the sunrise appearing directly above the surrounding hills, suggesting that the site's builders possessed considerable knowledge of celestial movements and incorporated this knowledge into the monument's orientation and design.

Landscape and Regional Context

The monument is situated on the hilly southern part of the Djursland peninsula, positioned at the entrance to the Baltic Sea between Denmark and Sweden. The surrounding landscape, particularly the beautiful Mols Bjerge hills to the east, provides a striking natural backdrop that enhances the sense of stepping back in time. The area's geology is significant—apart from Denmark's easternmost island, Bornholm, the country has no bedrock, making large granite slabs exceptionally valuable for construction purposes. This scarcity explains why so many dolmens have disappeared or been damaged over the centuries, making Poskær Stenhus's preservation all the more remarkable.