Haväng Dolmen: Who Lies Beneath?

Hidden on the southern edge of the Ravlunda shooting range in Simrishamn, Sweden, is the 5,500-year-old Haväng Dolmen. This megalithic tomb, known in Swedish as a dös, was built during the early phase of the Trattbägarkulturen, around 5500 years ago. It is believed to be one of the earliest constructions of its kind in the region. But what sets it apart is the mystery of who or how many lie buried beneath. The grave is surrounded by 16 stone blocks that form a rectangle, approximately 60 square meters in area.

The chamber of the tomb, consisting of three side-stones and a single stone as the roof, is shaped like a rectangle with dimensions of 2.7 meters by 2 meters. Interestingly, the entrance to the chamber faces the sea and the direction where the sun rises during the equinoxes. Excavations in 1869 revealed skeletons and a flintyxa. Further research has shown that the hamlet surrounding the dolmen was constructed at some point in the 1000s and 1600s.

In 2015, a fire was lit on the roof of the tomb, causing the roof stone to crack. Despite its simplicity, the petite size of Haväng Dolmen and its surround landscape make it a tranquil and intriguing site to visit.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons