Articles

The destroyed hunebed O2 and the adjacent TRB flat cemetery at Mander (Gem. Tubbergen, province Overijssel)

Authors

  • J.N. Lanting
  • A.L. Brindley

Abstract

In 1957 Dr C.C.W.J. Hijszeler excavated the remains of the destroyed megalithic tomb O2 near Mander. Apart from a few short notes the results have not been published. In 1995 the provincial archaeologist, A.D. Verlinde, re-excavated the site, in order to locate the destroyed tomb precisely prior to the construction of an oblong earthen mound on the site, and to establish the quality of any remaining evidence. Both authors participated in the excavation. The 1995 excavation enabled the complete reconstruction of the ground plan of the megalithic chamber, due to the discovery of the foundation pit of the eastern end stone, and the elucidation of the character of some sub-recent features recorded in 1957. An unexpected discovery was that of a number of TRB flat graves and of pits with TRB pottery adjacent to the megalithic tomb. The finds from the destroyed hunebed have been sorted and described, but unfortunately not illustrated either as drawings or as photos due to a lack of manpower and finance. The finds from the flat graves and pits containing pottery excavated in 1995 are illustrated here, however. The decorated pottery from the hunebed belongs largely to Brindley's Horizons 3 and 4, but two typical Horizon 5 pots are preserved as well. In the spread of sherds in front of the entrance to the tomb Horizon 2 pottery was discovered, suggesting that the hunebed may have been constructed during that Horizon. The pottery from the flat graves next to the hunebed belongs partly to Horizon 4, but largely to Horizon 5, indicating that this flat grave cemetery started during the last phase of use of the hunebed, but stayed in use for some time after the last burial in the hunebed.

Published

2004-12-15

Issue

Section

Articles