ROUGH STONE MONUMENTS 



In Germany megalithic monuments are not 

 infrequent, but they are practically confined to 

 the northern part of the country. They extend 

 as far east as Konigsberg and as far west as the 

 borders of Holland. They are very frequent in 

 Holstein, Mecklenburg, and Hanover. There are 

 even examples in Prussian Saxony, but in South 

 Germany they cease entirely. Keller in one edition 

 of his Lake Dwellings figures two supposed dolmens 

 north of Lake Pfaffikon in Switzerland, but we 

 have no details with regard to them. 



The true dolmen is extremely rare in Germany, 

 and only occurs in small groups in particular 

 localities. The corridor-tomb with a distinct 

 chamber is also very exceptional, especially east 

 of the Elbe. The most usual type of megalithic 

 tomb is that known as the HUnenbett or Ricsenbett. 

 The latter name means Giants' Bed, and it seems 

 probable that the former should be similarly 

 translated, despite the suggested connection with 

 the Huns, for a word Hunen has been in use in 

 North Germany for several centuries with the 

 meaning of giants. A HUnenbett consists of a 

 rectangular (rarely oval or round) hill of earth 

 covering a megalithic tomb. This is a simple 

 elongated rectangle in shape, made of upright 

 blocks and roofed with two or more cover-slabs. 

 The great HUnenbett or Grewismiihlen in Mecklen- 

 burg has a mound measuring 150 feet by 36 with 

 a height of 5 feet. On the edge of the mound 



56 



