National Museum of Denmark

The roads of the dead

As a rule the stone-packing graves are characteristically aligned in rows. Rows of up to 1700 metres, though interrupted at certain points, are known. The long rows of stone-packing graves were presumably placed along old trackways. This was suspected at Engedal, west of Viborg, where the archaeologists found Denmark’s oldest wheel tracks close to stone-packing graves.

The roads of the dead — Perhaps it was important for Neolithic people to place the graves along a trackway to mark out the journey to the kingdom of the dead? These rows of graves are from Herrup in western Jutland.

The roads of the dead — Solid disc wheel from the Neolithic period found in a small bog at Kideris, south of Herning. The wheel, which is cut out from one piece of wood, is 73.5 cm in diameter. Exhibited at Herning Museum.

The roads of the dead — The Kideris wheel may have been used in this way.