A major international research programme on Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation (Fr眉he听Monumentalit盲t听und听Soziale听Differenzierung) funded by the German research Foundation (DFG Priority Programme 1400) began in 2009.

Its aim was to investigate听the origin and development of large-scale monuments, and the emergence of early complex societies, on the north European Plain, and to examine the relations between monumental building and social structures after the emergence of sedentism at around 4100 BC.听听

Coordinated by the听Institut听f眉r听Ur- und听Fr眉hgeschichte, Christian-Albrechts-Universit盲t in Kiel, a total of 22 university departments, research institutes, and heritage management offices were involved in delivering 16听 contributing projects听[Link:听The Priority Program:听Fr眉he听Monumentalit盲t听und听soziale听Differenzierung听- SPP 1400 (uni-kiel.de)].听Seven regional case studies were set alongside, and provide samples and data for, ten thematic investigations. One of the case studies (Project 鈥淔r眉he听Monumentalit盲t听in West Mecklenburg鈥澨齃ink:听Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation in Western Mecklenburg:听Fr眉he听Monumentalit盲t听und听soziale听Differenzierung听- SPP 1400 (uni-kiel.de)].) focused on the early monuments of western Mecklenburg with fieldwork carried out between 2009 and 2015.听

Selecting suitable sites to sample as part of the First Monuments and Social Differentiation project was far from easy. A study of the social background to megalithic moments in听northeastern听Germany by Steinmann in 2001 emphasised the diversity of structural form, while excavations at听Flintbek听show how complicated the development and phasing of individual sites can be. A visual inspection of megalithic tombs in order to identify sites with high potential for dating and identifying sequences of construction led to the definition of the cemetery at听Friedrichsruhe听as a major target. Here the aim was to examine the mounds in order to explore the structure and development of these monuments rather than their chambers. Three mounds were examined and local sequences of development established.听

Geophysical surveys were carried out on the enclosures at Plate 3, Plate 14,听G盲debehn听10,听Ruthen听17, and听Zietlitz听1, which led to excavations being focused on three sites: Plate 3 and 14, and听G盲debehn听10. Geophysical surveys were also undertaken at听Ostorf听to assess the likelihood of further unexcavated burials being present. Sample excavations based on these results, together with a review of the position and extent of earlier excavations, revealed a previously unknown inhumation grave.听

Post excavation analysis is in progress and a full report is in preparation. An interim account is available听[Link to D1听pdf]:

Plan of Friedichsruhe 8 showing the position and extent of the excavation trenches
Plan of Friedichsruhe 8 showing the position and extent of the excavation trenches
View of Friedichsruhe 7 after clearance of the mound prior to excavation. Looking north with the long mound in the foreground and the northern round mound beyond. [Photograph by Timothy Darvill] View of Friedichsruhe 7 after clearance of the mound prior to excavation. Looking north with the long mound in the foreground and the northern round mound beyond. [Photograph by Timothy Darvill]
View of excavations in progress at Friedichsruhe 7 (north). [Photograph by Timothy Darvill] View of excavations in progress at Friedichsruhe 7 (north). [Photograph by Timothy Darvill]

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