Sieben Steinhäuser

The Sieben Steinhäuser are five Neolithic dolmens on the Lüneburg Heath in northern Germany. They stand inside the Bergen-Hohne training area, a military zone between Bad Fallingbostel and Bergen. The stones date from 3500 to 2800 BC and belong to the funnelbeaker culture. A small stream called the Hohe Bach flows past the site. The area is protected as a cultural monument and has been since 1923. The graves are remarkable for their size and alignment. Grave D holds the largest capstone, measuring about five metres by four metres. The chambers were once covered with earth but have been exposed by erosion. Four graves were excavated and restored between 1924 and 1937. Protective earthen walls were added in 1958 to shield the stones from shell damage. The site also carries Sprockhoff numbers 806 to 810. Visitors walk along a road that starts near Ostenholz, about four kilometres southeast of the Walsrode interchange. The route passes through the restricted military area and is cleared of spent ammunition before public access. The dolmens stand in a straight line, each chamber facing northeast to southwest. Grave A has three capstones, one of which is broken. Grave D is enclosed by a rectangular barrow that may have been intended for more graves. Local legend tells of a giant who carried stones from Elferdingen to build the site.