Papeloze Kerk (catalogued as D49)[1] is a restored megalithic tomb (Dutch: hunebed) near Schoonoord in the Netherlands.

Papeloze Kerk
Photo of Papeloze Kerk
Papeloze Kerk
Papeloze Kerk is located in Netherlands
Papeloze Kerk
Shown within Netherlands
LocationSchoonoord, Coevorden
RegionNetherlands
Coordinates52°49′12″N 6°46′26″E / 52.8201°N 6.7738°E / 52.8201; 6.7738
TypeDolmen
History
PeriodsNeolithic

Name

edit

The meaning of the name is disputed but it is generally thought to mean "priestless church" (Dutch: paap = priest) or "popeless church".[1] It is sometimes said that anti-Catholic (anti-"popish") sermons were held here in the 16th century.[2]

Restoration

edit

The monument was heavily damaged in the 1860s by people using it as a quarry for building material.[3] It was excavated in 1938 and again in 1958 by A. E. van Giffen.[3] In 1959 he chose to restore it as a demonstration model of a Dutch "hunebed" tomb.[2] Some of the stones were taken from elsewhere, including eleven stones taken from another hunebed (D33).[3] Half the tomb was covered in earth and the chamber was reconstructed with dry-stone walling.[3] The other half of the tomb was left in skeleton form.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Bakker, Jan Albert (2010). Megalithic Research in the Netherlands. Sidestone Press. p. 34. ISBN 9088900345.
  2. ^ a b DK Eyewitness Travel Guide The Netherlands. Dorling Kindersley. 2014. p. 311. ISBN 0241011434.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bakker, Jan Albert (2010). Megalithic Research in the Netherlands. Sidestone Press. p. 224. ISBN 9088900345.
edit

  Media related to Papeloze kerk at Wikimedia Commons