The King's Grave

The grave of Kivik, also king grave (Swedish: Kiviks or Kungagraven ) in Bredarör near Kivik, in the Swedish region Österlen in Southeast Skåne, is the restored remains of a burial from the Nordic Bronze Age ( about 1000 BC ). The Roese was not only used as a quarry, but first apply restored carelessly. Both in design and in the dimensions of 75 meters in diameter, it differs from most Northern European graves of the Bronze Age. However, stone cists under cairns are a typical form for this time in Sweden and to a lesser density in Denmark. The unique petroglyphs of the stone box to show people, boats, lures, symbols, and a chariot with two horses.

It is located about 320 m from the coast. Nearby you will find the rock carvings of Simrishamn, immediately adjacent the two large stone settings ( Penning Graven - Coins grave - and a 60 m long stone ship ) on the burial ground of Ängakåsen in Bredarör.

History

The grave was used until 1748 as a quarry for local building work. Two farmers discovered a 3.25 m long north -south oriented grave chamber of ten stone slabs. Hoping for a treasure they dug from the grave - if they found a treasure, is unclear.

Only later was it discovered that the stone slabs contributed petroglyphs. Nevertheless stones were further broken and some of the plates disappeared.

From 1931 to 1933, there was a thorough excavation, in which also found the remains of a Stone Age settlement under the hill, as well as large amounts of flint discounts. From the Bronze Age were only teeth, found fragments of bronze and bone splinters.

The mound contained two grave chambers. On the left side of the southern end of the first stone slabs of a 1.2 m long and 0.65 m wide second chamber were found. Because of its size it was called Prince grave. Since it had been looted, there were no reliable finds more, but it is believed that both graves have been created at the same time.

After the excavation of the grave has been restored, but you do not know how the restoration corresponds to the original state. A comparison with contemporary tombs suggests that the grave would have to be three times as high as the current 3.5 m. The restoration was based on etchings of the 18th century and conjectures. Here, a chamber made ​​of concrete was prepared and applied near the center, a short tunnel into the grave chamber.

The grave and the rock carvings in the chamber can be visited.