Megalithic tombs remain awe-inspiring monuments of the Neolithic period, dating back 5,500 years. The highest concentration of these burial sites in Central Europe is found in Saxony-Anhalt, specifically in the Haldensleber Forst. One such tomb, known as the “Küsterberg,” was partially reconstructed this spring by the City of Haldensleben, in collaboration with the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology (LDA) of Saxony-Anhalt and the Institute of Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology at Kiel University. It was ceremoniously inaugurated on April 27, 2025, as part of the Day of Megalithic Culture.

The “Küsterberg” megalithic tomb

The approximately 5,500-year-old Küsterberg megalithic tomb lies in a field southeast of Haldensleben, near Hundisburg (Börde district). It was excavated in three archaeological campaigns in 2010, 2012, and 2013 as part of the German Research Foundation’s Priority Programme 1400 “Frühe Monumentalität und soziale Differenzierung” (Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation) by Kiel University’s Institute of Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology, in cooperation with the LDA Saxony-Anhalt. These excavations provided valuable insights into the tomb’s construction, extension, and later reuse in subsequent archaeological periods.

Based on the findings, the tomb can now be reconstructed as follows: The burial chamber, aligned east–west, measured 11 meters in length and 2 meters in width externally. It consisted of 7 capstones weighing a total of 13 tons and 19 orthostats (upright stones), with two located at each end. The gaps between the orthostats were filled with dry-stone masonry made from broken greywacke. The floor of the chamber was paved with the same material.

This chamber was surrounded by 16 megaliths placed two meters apart, forming a perimeter which was approximately 16 m long and 5 m wide. The open spaces between them were also filled with dry-stone masonry similar to that used in the burial chamber.
The entrance to the chamber was located roughly at the middle of the southern side of the structure. The entire tomb was originally covered by a mound at least as high as the capstones, most likely built using material removed when leveling the small hill before construction. In front of the entrance, an area of about 4 m in radius was paved in a semicircle. Within this forecourt, traces of at least three freestanding megaliths were found; two of them stood along the extended axis of the chamber entrance.

Around 3,000 years ago, during the transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age, the tomb suffered major disturbance by humans who intruded into the structure. Part of the mound was removed, and one wall stone taken out. A nearly intact bird-shaped vessel from the Bronze Age was found as evidence of this intrusion. The latest traces of use identified during the excavations date to the Iron Age (600-200 BC).

Reconstruction of the “Küsterberg”

The knowledge gained from the excavations served as the foundation for the reconstruction of the megalithic tomb. In spring 2025, the necessary work was carried out by the City of Haldensleben with the participation of the LDA Saxony-Anhalt and numerous volunteers. Using heavy machinery, the wall and capstones were returned to their original positions, dry-stone walls were built by hand, the chamber was filled with gravel, and the entrance was sealed with stones.

The reconstructed Küsterberg tomb is intended to inspire visitors and highlight the region’s deep historical roots. Its reestablishment adds a new attraction to both the 40-kilometer “Four Million Years of Human History” circular route around Haldensleben and the 80-km Aller–Elbe cycling trail.

For people in past centuries, megalithic tombs served as landmarks in the landscape and played an important role in folk beliefs, legends, and fairy tales. The megalithic tombs around Haldensleben rank among the most impressive above-ground archaeological monuments in Saxony-Anhalt. Their inclusion in the Megalithic Routes – European Route of Megalithic Culture further emphasizes their significance as outstanding cultural heritage.

On April 27, 2025, the reconstructed Küsterberg tomb was officially inaugurated.