Havängsdösen: Who Lies Beneath?

Hidden on the southern edge of the Ravlunda shooting range, near the mouth of Verkeån in Hanöbukten, is Havängsdösen. This megalithic tomb, known as a dös, was built during the early phase of the Trattbägarkulturen. But what sets it apart is the mystery of who or how many lie buried beneath. The grave is surrounded by 16 ground-fixed stone blocks that form a rectangle, having an area of approximately 60 square meters.

The chamber consists of three side-stones that are 1.65 x 0.5 m, with a stone roof measuring 2.7 x 2 m. Interestingly, the entrance to the chamber faces the sea and the direction where the sun rises during the spring and autumn equinoxes. Excavations in 1869 revealed skeletons from humans and a flint axe. Further research has shown that the harbour (hamn) should be constructed at some point in the 1000s and 1600s.

In 2015, a fire was lit on the roof of the tomb, causing the roof slab to crack. It is unknown who or which people are buried under Havängsdösen, though it is generally believed that only one person was buried in such tombs, typically those of significance in society.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons