Ever wonder about ancient Sylt secrets? Today we explore the Merelmerskhoog. It is a well-preserved Nordic passage grave near Archsum. Locals call this spot Mootjis Küül, Grandmother’s Hollow in the Sylter Frisian language.
The Merelmerskhoog sits within a circular mound. This mound is about 15 meters in diameter. It lies at the base of the Nössedeich dike. Gottfried Heinrich Handelmann excavated it back in 1877.
This Ganggrab is listed as Sprockhoff No. 6. That is in Ernst Sprockhoff’s Atlas of German Megalith Graves. The Merelmerskhoog dates back to between 3500 and 2800 BC. It comes from the Funnel Beaker Culture period.
Let’s take a closer look at the Merelmerskhoog’s chamber. It aligns north to south. Four stones line each long side. Two stones form each narrow end. Four capstones cover the chamber. The middle ones have shifted slightly. The chamber measures 5.3 by 1.5 meters.
A 3.5-meter-long passage extends from the middle of the eastern long side. It consists of three pairs of stones. Each pair has its own capstones.
You might see the name spelled slightly differently. The Atlas of German Megalith Graves calls it Merelmeershoog. Another name for it is Middelmarschhoog. About 1000 meters southeast lies another Stone Age grave. It is the Kolkingehoog Archsum in the Wadden Sea.
The Hünenbetten von Archsum are also nearby. They lie on the sea side of the Nössedeich. Like the Merelmerskhoog, locals call this area Mootjis Küül. These graves also date from 3500 to 2800 BC. They are Megalithanlagen of the Funnel Beaker Culture.
Interestingly, the stones of one grave become visible at low tide. They lie in the mudflats. The North Sea’s constant action has damaged them. The original burial chamber is no longer recognizable. Gottfried Schäfer examined the site in 1963. He uncovered an almost intact stone chamber. This chamber was a dolmen measuring 2.3 by 1.2 meters. It consisted of three pairs of stones. A large, flat boulder leaned against the western narrow side. An entry stone was set into the ground on the east side.
Twenty meters northwest lies another Hünenbett. Gottfried Schäfer also examined this grave in 1963. He found two chambers within the five to six-meter-wide Hünenbett. Three stones lined the southern long side of the western chamber. Two stones lined the northern long side. Relatively flat boulders leaned against the eastern and western narrow sides. A stone tile floor remained in places. Two stones form the southern long side of the eastern chamber. One stone forms the northern long side. A boulder stood at each of the eastern and western narrow sides.
These ancient sites offer a glimpse into Sylt’s distant past. The Merelmerskhoog and nearby graves stand as silent witnesses. They tell tales of early settlers and their burial rituals. They showcase the enduring legacy of the Funnel Beaker Culture.