Enigma magazine | Page 14

ARCHEOLOGY

externstein e
germany’s sacred stone formation

© Christian

text: CAROLYN EMERICK

E

xternsteine is an unusual sandstone rock
formation near Ostwestfalen-Lippe in
the northwest of Germany. It is unique
among other monolithic sites in Europe
because it is a natural formation that has
been altered by human hands. Whereas Stonehenge
was built by people, Externsteine was built by Nature
and then manipulated by people.
It is unclear who were the very first people to use Externsteine. There are many theories, and no clear consensus among researchers. What everyone does agree
on is that the site has been used by many different

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groups for strikingly different purposes throughout the
ages. Was Externsteine used as a pre-historic sacred
site? Did Neolithic people worship there? Did it have
an astronomical function like other ancient European
sites? The answer to all of these questions is: maybe.
Theories abound about Externsteine's use as a sacred
place of worship and sacrifice, as well as an astronomical observatory. Paleolithic and Mesolithic stone tools
have been found at the site giving some credence to the
theory that pre-historic people were, indeed, present at
the location. But, there is not enough evidence to conclusively determine their activities. Some theories of

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