Site 14: Megalithic Graves at Deymann’s Mill (14a-d)
At the village street between Klein Berßen and Klein Stavern are several neighbouring megalithic tombs surrounded by fields and woods. The road crosses the little river Nordradde where once Deymann’s mill a watermill was. Of what were probably a great number of graves, only four have survived in more or less good condition.
Grave I and II are remarkably small, 2.2 and 3 metres respectively. Grave II is basically in ruins. Grave I tells us that one cannot draw conclusions from the size of the grave chamber to the size of the boulders used, because the capstone of this grave –still in situ – is enormous. Grave III must have had a longer chamber, but its state of preservation is also quite bad.
Grave IV’s construction differs distinctively from the others. A 6 x 3 metre chamber lies within a rectangular enclosure originally extending 33 x 7 metres, a so called Hünenbett (Giants Bed, from German Hüne = giant, Bett = bed). But most stones of the Giants Bed are missing.
Site 14: Megalithic Grave at the Osteresch (14e)
At the northern end of the village of Klein Stavern is a partially destroyed grave on top of a hill west of the road. Essential parts of the grave chamber and enclosure are still there, but a lot has been removed during the last centuries. The remaining areas show a chamber width of two metres and give hindsight of a once lordly site.
Site 14: Megalithic Grave at Bruneforths Esch (14f)
This remarkable megalithic grave is one of the most beautiful of the Hümmling and the entire Emsland. The site on a little hill south of the road leading from Klein Stavern towards Bruneforth settlement represents a very well preserved Emsland Chamber. The unspoiled arboreal vegetation of the hill adds a special touch.
The enclosure is missing, but the chamber has eleven bays, is 25 metres long and three metres wide at its widest point. It tapers considerably towards the small sides ending up at 1.8 metres. The entrance is equally remarkable. It is three metres wide and leads from the south side into the chamber. The entrance orthostats protrude partly into the chamber thus creating false corners whose function is yet unknown.
- Directions for PDF-download:
- Megalithic Graves at Deymann’s Mill (14a-d)
- Megalithic Grave at the Osteresch (14e)
- Megalithic Grave at Bruneforths Esch (14f)
