In prehistoric times, it was a worldwide custom for people to bury their dead under mounds. The dead were housed together with objects from their mundane life, and their spirit was revered as sacred ancestors who provided protection. However, it was believed that they could also take revenge on those who dared to violate their eternal peace - such as grave robbers or even modern archaeologists.
Stone Age mounds to honor the dead
During the Stone Age, people had many rituals. For example, the weather was considered incredibly important for crops - a poor harvest could mean hunger. Therefore, people believed that they could use various rituals to influence the weather in order to induce rain or stop it if necessary.
Stone Age people also venerated their ancestors, so they had to make sure their dead were in peace. If they watched over the spirits of the dead, they believed that the dead would look after the living. The spirit had to be released so that it does not remain trapped inside the body and it was believed that the spirit could leave the body only after all the flesh had disappeared from the bones. At times, when the dead were not happy with their funeral rites, it was believed that they could return to haunt the living.
Therefore, prehistoric people built mounds from earth or stones. They were designed as homes for the dead and somewhat resembled the prehistoric dwellings of the living. Until the medieval period, the Vikings continued to use this type of mound.
Long burial mounds are the most common and usually took several years to build. At the same time, people could enter the burial mounds of their ancestors in order to perform the necessary rituals from time to time.
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Legends of the Silbury Hill Mound
In the Neolithic and Bronze Age, the mounds lost their long forms and became more round. Silbury Hill is probably the best example of this style. Located near Avebury, Wiltshire, England, the mound was built around 2700 BC. Silbury Hill is 40 meters high and 160 meters in diameter. It took about 10 years to build and it is considered the largest prehistoric monument in England.
Some researchers gathered around the mound in 1776. They set out to solve the mystery of the mound, digging there to see what was underneath. Nothing was found that time. Other excavations in 1849 and 1969 also showed nothing. As the hill remained surrounded by mystery, many legends arose about it.
For example, one of these legends tells of how the devil intended to cover the city of Devizes in Wiltshire with earth. The shoemaker took a bag full of used shoes and went to the devil. The man encountered the devil while he was resting after carrying an earthen mound.
The devil asked the man how far to the city. In response, the young man showed him all the used shoes. He added that he has been using these shoes since leaving town three years ago. Frustrated, the devil said he had no intention of traveling that far carrying the mound, so he just left it there. This is one of the many legends explaining the existence of the Silbury Hill Barrow.
It is also said that the mound is haunted by the ghost of the mythical warrior king of the Forces. According to legend, the king was buried there along with his horse and his armor, which were completely made of gold. But although many excavations have been carried out at this site, no one has been able to find any hints of the king's remains.
By the way, the dug tunnels led to the partial collapse of the mound, so modern scientists are trying to use other research methods in order to preserve this monument.
Stone Age Treasures Are More Than Silver and Gold
Many European legends speak of burial mounds, in which great and fabulous treasures are hidden, protected by ancient spirits. However, gold was not common in Europe at that time and therefore the search for “ancestral wealth” often takes on a different meaning.
In addition, all the legends of giant statues made entirely of gold dating back to those times must be viewed with a degree of skepticism. For example, the king of Cornwall was said to have been buried in a giant boat made of gold and with silver oars. However, when his grave was discovered, nothing more than a small wooden box of ash was found. Although, of course, such mounds still contain certain values.
As for the stories about the ghosts of prehistoric people haunting the mounds, no one stayed overnight to find out …
Nikolaeva Maria
