Lunds universitet/Institutionen för arkeologi och antikens historia
Abstract
In this essay I discuss the expression ritual landscape regarding the burial and gathering site of Döserygg and its surroundings in south-western Scania, Sweden. Döserygg is dated to the early Neolithic-mid Neolithic period. I have studied literature, searched the Swedish National Heritage Board’s database, and studied maps to answer my questions: What is a ritual landscape? What other Neolithic sites are there in this part of Scania? How do they relate to Döserygg? and Can I see a ritual landscape in the archaeological material? There is not one definition of ritual landscape, but several. They all have in common that monuments are built in the vicinity of each other. By studying the patterns and locations of megalithic tombs (primarily dolmens), settlements and flint axe finds, I have found in my analysis that the term ritual landscape can be used, but that it may be better to use the expression ritual centre. This does not imply that it is not a ritual landscape, but that the link may be something other than monumental
