Kringgraaf

Kringgraaf is a term used in Dutch archaeology to describe a circular earthwork, typically a ditch or embankment, that forms a ring around a central feature such as a grave, burial space, settlement, or ceremonial area. The ring may be a single ditch, a raised bank, or a combination of both, and it can be circular or oval in shape. Dimensions vary widely, from a few meters to several tens of meters in diameter, and the ring is often accompanied by a central feature such as a grave mound or a house platform.

Kringgraafs are identified through field surveys, excavation, and increasingly through remote sensing technologies like aerial photography and LiDAR. In many cases they occur in the same regional archaeological contexts as early cemeteries or habitational sites, and they are frequently dated to late prehistoric periods, including the Bronze Age and Iron Age, though the term has also been applied to later ring structures in some regions.

Interpretations of kringgraaf vary. Some researchers view them as protective enclosures or territorial markers; others as ceremonial or processional boundaries that delineate sacred space. In certain sites, the ring encloses a central monument or a tomb, suggesting a funerary function, while at other sites the ring may encircle domestic buildings, suggesting a social or communal boundary.

Relative rarity and the preservation state of surrounding deposits mean that the function of any given kringgraaf is typically inferred from the overall site context, artifacts, and dating evidence. Further research and comparative studies across Northwest Europe continue to refine its broader significance.

See also: ring ditch; circular earthwork; annular enclosure.