Archaeologists Have Discovered a Rare Monolithic Menhir

In the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, near Halberstadt at Warmholzberg, archaeologists discovered a menhir, dating back to the Middle Bronze Age and meaning “long stone,” during the investigation of structural anomalies detected in grain fields.

Initially, archaeologists were working on underground ditches interpreted as belonging to a medieval castle. However, detailed examinations revealed that these structures belonged to a much earlier period.

Aerial photographs uncovered a complex ditch system indicating a burial site from the fourth millennium BC, belonging to the Baalberg culture.

Excavations conducted by the Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology clarified the depth and structure of the ditches, while also leading to a remarkable discovery. A 1.74-meter-high, pyramid-shaped sandstone slab, determined to have been brought from a stone quarry at least 5 kilometers away, was found. This monolithic slab was identified as a menhir and provided significant clues about the prehistoric cultural importance of the Warmholzberg complex.

According to archaeologists, the menhir was probably erected as a prominent marker on a ridge. However, at some point in prehistoric times, it was removed and placed in a ditch for ritual purposes. Who transported the menhir and why it was removed still remains a mystery. Experts believe that this action may have been carried out by a later culture with a different worldview. For them, this stone might have been perceived as a relic of a past belief system, perhaps a mysterious and threatening symbol.

It is known that other decorated menhirs in Central Germany were similarly repositioned in ancient times and often integrated into later burial sites. 1 This discovery at Warmholzberg raises new questions about the beliefs, rituals, and cultural interactions of prehistoric communities, and sheds light on the region’s history.

Menhirs: Prehistoric Monuments of Mystery and Significance

Menhirs are large, upright stones that were erected during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. They can be found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. While their exact purposes are not definitively known, they may have been used as grave markers, for religious ceremonies, astronomical observations, or as boundary markers. Typically found in an upright position, they come in various sizes and shapes. Notable examples include the Carnac Stones in France, Stonehenge in England, and the Lalapaşa in Edirne, Türkiye. These prehistoric structures provide insights into the lives and beliefs of past civilizations.

Cover Image Credit: LDA

State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt