During recent archaeological rescue excavations along the D35 highway between Plotiště and Sadová in the Czech Republic, a monumental archaeological structure was unearthed at the border of the municipalities of Dlouhé Dvory and Lípa. This impressive structure, identified as a long mound, dates back approximately 5,800 years and is attributed to the Funnel Beaker Culture (FBC), a significant Eneolithic (Copper Age) culture that spanned from around 3800 to 3350 B.C. This discovery is a major find that offers new insights into the social and ceremonial practices of this ancient European society.
The mound is a substantial funerary structure, designed to reflect the high social status of the individuals buried within. Characterized by its elongated and trapezoidal shape, the mound stretches an impressive 190 meters (623 feet) in length, making it one of the longest structures of its kind in Central Europe. Such structures are known for their monumental design, which not only signifies the importance of the deceased but also serves as a marker of the territory and community identity.
The mound was identified through the discovery of a long, trapezoidal ditch with a curved base, a hallmark of Funnel Beaker Culture constructions. Typically, such ditches would contain traces of wooden palisades or stake holes, used to reinforce the mound.
However, in this particular case, no evidence of these stakes has yet been found. This absence may be due to the intense agricultural activity in the area over centuries, which may have disturbed the original structure.
The mound, which is oriented northeast-southwest, measures 15.1 meters (approximately 50 feet) at its widest point. The entrance to the mound was found to be remarkably well-preserved, with a visible post hole and channel indicating the original access point.
At the heart of the mound are two central burials, believed to be those of the individuals for whom the structure was constructed. The first central burial features a grave with an internal construction marked by channels along its longer sides and post holes in the corners. Within this grave, the body was found positioned on its left side, facing north, accompanied by a ceramic vessel as a grave offering.
The second central burial lacks an internal structure, but the body was similarly placed on its left side, facing north. This burial included a collection of five finely crafted flint artifacts, identified as typologically significant items such as arrowheads and a blade. Interestingly, this grave was disturbed by a more recent pit, which also served as a burial site but did not contain any human remains.
In addition to the central burials, another grave was discovered sunk into the body of the mound. This grave had internal constructions with post holes at the corners and channels, but only fragmented and severely deteriorated cranial remains were found.
Besides the long mound, archaeologists identified 27 additional graves within the surrounding area. Some of these also featured internal constructions similar to those found in the mound. The associated grave goods from these burials align with analogous sites in both the Czech Republic and Poland, suggesting widespread cultural practices during the Eneolithic period.
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