Menhir vu Recken | |
 Menhir of Beisenerbierg | |
  Shown within Luxembourg | |
| Alternative name | Menhir de Reckingen |
|---|---|
| Location | Reckange |
| Region | Luxembourg |
| Coordinates | 49°45′33″N6°04′34″E / 49.75918°N 6.07603°E |
| Type | Standing stone |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
The Menhir of Beisenerbierg is a three-metre-tall standing stone which stands on a hilltop at Reckange (Luxembourgish : Recken; German : Reckingen) in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. An excavation in 2001 revealed its age to be Neolithic.
The standing stone, or "menhir", is 3 metres high, 0.7 metres wide, and weighs around 4 tonnes. [1] It is made from sandstone and owes its yellow-brown colour to its high iron content. [1] It appears to have been shaped to give it an "anthropomorphic" form. [2]
The stone was buried for centuries until 1978 when it was identified by members of the "Friends of Old Mersch" association. [1] It was re-erected 30 metres from its original location. [1] In 2001, an archaeological excavation was undertaken by the National Museum. [1] The excavations which uncovered the original foundation pit confirmed the antiquity of this megalithic monument, and showed it to be Neolithic. [2]
A menhir, standing stone, orthostat, or lith is a large man-made upright stone, typically dating from the European middle Bronze Age. They can be found solely as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Menhirs' size can vary considerably, but they are generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top.
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