Here and There: The setting of dolmens and passage graves in north-eastern and south-eastern Scania

In this master’s thesis I have explored what characterises the setting of dolmens and passage graves in north-eastern and south-eastern Scania, southern Sweden, if there are common features, and what meaning/connection the setting can imply. By combining field visits at twenty-four sites with search results from the Swedish National Heritage Board’s database, map studies, literature studies and previous research, I have found that the sites are characterised by diversity in the setting, though some sites share a combination of characteristics. The most common combination is view of mountain/hill/ridge and settlement within 100 metres of the site. Water seems to have been less significant. There are too few deposits recorded to interpret any connection between sites, deposits and features in the landscape. The diversity in setting suggests that there was no general rule of where to place a megalithic tomb; instead it may have been local/regional conditions that determined the placing. A view of a mountain/hill/ridge, often on the horizon, appears to be a significant aspect, as it is the most common feature in the setting. A mountain/hill/ridge is a landscape feature that stands out from the surrounding landscape, and it may have been perceived as a connection with other worlds as well as part of local mythology.