ADOPT A BURIAL MOUND FROM THE BRONZE AGE
JULY 31:
We all want to protect the lovely nature we are
surrounded by. This also includes many
of the important traces from past generations.
In Denmark you find all the old burial mounds in the landscape. Most of
them were built in the Bronze Age ( 1700-500 BC). In the beginning they were graves for the
rich people. Later many more were buried there – from 1000 BC in urns. Altogether
86.000 of them have been identified in the country. Today 22.000 still exist
and can be seen in most of the country in the landscape. They are all several
meters high. They are all protected.
Only the National Museum may give permission to escavate them. Such permissions
are almost never given.
Now, a local municipality, Odsherred Kommune, is
running a special project – supported by funds from the EU. It invites citizens to adopt a burial mound. By
doing so you commit yourself to look after it, cut the grass on it twice a year
and ensure that no waste etc. is left on the mound. It is a very interesting initiative to involve
citizens directly in active protection of nature and of the cultural heritage. And people do it for free.
Perhaps it could inspire others to do the same.
Not only with burial mounds – but with other important cultural heritages.
See below a photo of some of the Danish burial
mounds:
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