Vorstengraf (Oss)
Encyclopedia
The Vorstengraf in Oss
is one of the largest burial mounds in the Netherlands
and Belgium
. The hill was 3 meters high and had a diameter of 54 meters.
In 1933 the so-called Vorstengraf was uncovered during the construction of a trailer park on the heath
. It contained a bronze bucket containing a curved iron sword from 700 BC. The find was transferred to the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
in Leiden. The site of the hill was later a junkyard. The mound is now partly restored, a portion of the circumference of the hill is marked with poles.
In 2009 a second Vorstengraf was discovered a few hundred meters from the first Vorstengraf. The finds from this tomb are displayed in the Jan Cunen Museum in Oss. In 2011 it was announced that a third Vorstengraf was discovered in Uden
.
Paalgraven. This node is named after the pile graves that have been found in the immediate vicinity. These tombs were built in the period of the Early Bronze Age
to the Early Iron Age
, between 2000 BC to 700 BC.
To the east of Oss a new highway was built to connect the A50 and A59 from Emmeloord
to 's-Hertogenbosch (formerly the junction with the N265 Eindhoven-Oss).
In the vicinity of the tomb two Forest Hills Tree Wreaths were excavated. According to archaeologists the poles probably had a ritual
function. One of the hills is surrounded by a ditch.
To the east and south of the Vorstengraf an urnfield was found dating back to the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. Cremated remains are interred in an urn or cloth. Soon after the establishment of the Vorstengraf the burial ground was closed.
In the 13th century a gallows was built on one of these hills. This was at a crossroads of continuous ruts on the heath and the remains of two victims were found nearby.
East of the burial ground of a country remains were found.
The hill is also called Hansjoppenmountain. There are several stories about the dwarf Hans Joppen.
Oss
Oss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.- Population centres :-Transportation:* Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein- The city of Oss :...
is one of the largest burial mounds in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The hill was 3 meters high and had a diameter of 54 meters.
In 1933 the so-called Vorstengraf was uncovered during the construction of a trailer park on the heath
Heath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
. It contained a bronze bucket containing a curved iron sword from 700 BC. The find was transferred to the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
The Rijksmuseum van Oudheden is the national archaeological museum of the Netherlands. It is located in Leiden. The Museum grew out of the collection of Leiden University and still closely co-operates with its Faculty of Archaeology...
in Leiden. The site of the hill was later a junkyard. The mound is now partly restored, a portion of the circumference of the hill is marked with poles.
In 2009 a second Vorstengraf was discovered a few hundred meters from the first Vorstengraf. The finds from this tomb are displayed in the Jan Cunen Museum in Oss. In 2011 it was announced that a third Vorstengraf was discovered in Uden
Uden
Uden is a municipality and a town in the province of Noord-Brabant, Netherlands.- History :Uden was first recorded around 1190 as “Uthen”. However, earlier settlements have been found in the areas of the modern day Moleneind, Vorstenburg and Bitswijk and evidence of ice-age settlements has been...
.
Pile graves
The Vorstengraf is located at the interchangeInterchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
Paalgraven. This node is named after the pile graves that have been found in the immediate vicinity. These tombs were built in the period of the Early Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
to the Early Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
, between 2000 BC to 700 BC.
To the east of Oss a new highway was built to connect the A50 and A59 from Emmeloord
Emmeloord
Emmeloord is the administrative center of the municipality of Noordoostpolder, Flevoland, Netherlands.At the heart of the Noordoostpolder, where the three main drainage canals intersect, is the city of Emmeloord . Emmeloord is in a polder: land reclaimed from the IJsselmeer, which earlier was part...
to 's-Hertogenbosch (formerly the junction with the N265 Eindhoven-Oss).
In the vicinity of the tomb two Forest Hills Tree Wreaths were excavated. According to archaeologists the poles probably had a ritual
Ritual
A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
function. One of the hills is surrounded by a ditch.
To the east and south of the Vorstengraf an urnfield was found dating back to the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. Cremated remains are interred in an urn or cloth. Soon after the establishment of the Vorstengraf the burial ground was closed.
Seven Mounds
The area De Zevenbergen - Seven Mounds - was examined in 1964 and 1965 and seven burial mounds where found. When the junction was built had followed up this investigation. Leuven trial revealed that in the area a line of poles of at least 100 meter length has been found. In 2004 came the actual excavation of the burial ground.In the 13th century a gallows was built on one of these hills. This was at a crossroads of continuous ruts on the heath and the remains of two victims were found nearby.
East of the burial ground of a country remains were found.
Myths
There are folk tales associated with the mound, Jan Cunen has ever recorded that a prince should be buried in the heath.The hill is also called Hansjoppenmountain. There are several stories about the dwarf Hans Joppen.