On our country drive, we just happened upon a mini-Stonehenge, but one we could actually walk up to and touch. We were happy to see that it was free with free parking as well. The burial mound is the largest in Sweden at a diameter of 200 feet and a height of 30 feet. It reminded us of a pre-Columbian Native American burial mound in Cahokia, near St. Louis, Missouri.
Anundshög is dated to between A.D. 210 and 540. We're lucky if things are more than 100 years old in Alberta!
Welcome to Anundshög. Open 24/7. |
A mini-Stonehenge for sure, but a little more modern. |
I love that song that was on the radio when I was a teenager. Every time we're in a forest, we sing that song. |
Now we're at the burial mound. |
It's not as high as the burial mound at Cahokia but still impressive. |
We're on top of the mound looking down on the "stone ships." Rocks were placed in the shape of a ship and burials took place within the shape. |
It's chilly on top of the mound. Am glad for my winter coat even though the temperature isn't that cold. It's humid. |
Looking out toward winter wheat from the top of the mound. |
A huge runestone complete with runes. |
The stone says that "Folkvid raised all of these stones after his son Heden, Anund's brother Vred carved the runes." |
We're inside the stone ship now. There are 8 stone ships surrounding the main burial mound. |