grafheuvels

Grafheuvels, meaning "grave mounds" in Dutch, are prehistoric burial mounds found in the Low Countries (primarily the Netherlands) and neighboring regions. They date to the Late Neolithic through the Bronze Age and represent one of the most common forms of funerary monuments in these areas. They typically consist of earthen or sometimes stone-revetted mounds erected over graves and are visible as low, circular or oval hillocks in the landscape.

Construction and contents: Most grafheuvels are circular with a central burial or container for cremated remains. Some contain a cist, a small stone burial chamber, or a trench with cremation urns placed within. Grave goods, when present, may include pottery fragments, flint tools, bone implements, or metal objects, though many graves were plundered in antiquity. They were often built in groups along routes, hilltops, or field borders, reflecting community burial practices and landscape use.

Distribution: The largest concentration is in the Netherlands, especially in Drenthe, Groningen, Friesland, and Overijssel, with notable examples also found in northern Germany and adjacent regions. They vary in size from a few meters to tens of meters in diameter and up to several meters high.

Significance and preservation: Grafheuvels are valuable for understanding prehistoric social structure, ritual, and mortuary practices. Today, many survive as protected monuments, though some have been altered by agriculture or development. Archaeological work, including noninvasive surveys and targeted excavations, continues to shed light on their chronology and construction techniques.