Imagine yourself transported back in time. You are standing before Rævehøj a silent witness to Bornholm’s ancient past.
Rævehøj is more than just a mound of earth and stone. It is a tangible link to the island’s prehistoric inhabitants. It is a place where the echoes of ancient rituals and burial practices linger in the air.
The prehistory of Scandinavia is rich. It takes us back 14000 years to the end of the last Ice Age. At that time almost all of Scandinavia was covered by glaciers. Only the southwestern parts of today’s Denmark were ice-free. As the ice retreated the landscape transformed into tundra. Large mammals like reindeer and elk soon occupied it. Early hunters followed them to new lands.
Bornholm was once the farthest point of a peninsula. It connected the northern part of what is now Germany.
Later as temperatures increased, rivers of melted ice shaped the land. Vegetation and fauna gradually appeared. Around 3000 B.C.E. Denmark transformed into what it looks like today. The rising sea level made Bornholm an island.
The earliest signs of humans on Bornholm are limited. There have been finds of a flint arrowhead and a harpoon. They were found in the Vallensgård bog. Seasonal hunters probably left them behind.
Around 8600 B.C.E. the first real inhabitants arrived on Bornholm. They were hunter-gatherer societies. They exploited seasonal fruits nuts and berries. They stalked large game and fished in the sea and inland waterways.
Axes made of elk antlers and harpoons made of elk bone have been found. The material culture from the Mesolithic is characterized by small flint blades. These microliths formed part of composite tools such as knives and arrows.
During the summer people lived in single family settlements inland. In winter they gathered in bigger camps closer to the sea. Most Mesolithic sites uncovered are located close to water. Rivers and coastal locations gave access to a wide range of wild foods. The sea allowed easy transport via dug-out canoes to the mainland.
During the late Ertebølle culture coast settlements reappeared at 4500-3900 BCE. They were located along the coastline that was 5 meters higher than today. The people were connected to what is now the Swedish coast. Finds are dominated by arrowheads. We also see the first ceramic from this period.
Around 3900 B.C. the first farmers arrived. The agricultural technology and way of life came from southeastern Sweden. They grew crops and raised domesticated animals. They also introduced pottery vessels. They lived in large rectangular houses. Their inhabitants practiced mixed farming.
From 3500 BCE settlements were located on the south-eastern part of the island. Near these big settlements enormous gateway enclosures were constructed.
One of the most distinctive aspects of the Neolithic was the introduction of megalithic tombs.
Bornholm’s prehistory is characterized by the arrival of metalworking. Initially these new metal objects were fashioned out of copper. They consisted mainly of knives and axes. Bronze objects were not accessible for most of society. Flint was still used throughout the bronze age. A broad variety of objects were made of bronze including axes swords spears and jewelry. The Bronze Age also saw a growth in fine gold working.
During the early bronze age big grave mounds were constructed. The mounds were made of stones and frequently covered with soil. The mounds were often placed on notable ridges in the landscape close to the coast and streams.
Later cremation became the dominant ritual. There are at least 400 cairns and 250 standing stones that are dated to the later part of the bronze age between 1100-500 BCE.
It is considered that some sort of religious activity took place. Pictures of ships and wheel crosses along with cup marks and figures of feet were carved into the rock. They probably worshipped the sun.
The Iron Age on Bornholm is the richest period in terms of archaeological finds. As the name suggests this era was characterized by iron tools and weapons.
Bornholm has been fought over for centuries due to its strategic location. It has been ruled by Denmark Sweden and Lübeck.
Standing here before Rævehøj we are reminded of the countless generations. They have lived worked and died on this island. Their stories are etched into the very landscape. They await discovery by those who take the time to listen.