EEN VROEG TECHNISCH MONUMENT IN NOORD-DUITSLAND: DE 'OFFERSTEEN' VAN PLUMBOHM, NEDERSAKSEN

Samenvatting

An enormous erratic boulder at Plumbohm near Hitzacker, in de easternmost part of Lower Sax­any (Germany), is commonly known as the Opfer­stein (sacrificial stone). The stone shows a peculiar pattern of artificially cut groaves which enclose round (Ø 50-60 cm), square (50-60 x 50-60 cm) or rectangular areas. In the author's opi­nion the stone, a granite, was used as a quarry, the marks showing that the production of querns was intended. Granite querns were in general use in settlements in northern Germany during the first half of the first millennium AD.