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| Image Credit : Jakub Kaczmarczyk |
Archaeologists investigating an unusual earthwork near Wyrzecz in western Poland have uncovered strong evidence that the site is a monumental tomb built around 5,500 years ago by communities of early farmers.
Located within the General Dezydery Chłapowski Landscape Park in Greater Poland, the elongated mound was first detected through LiDAR data in 2024. Subsequent non-invasive investigations and targeted excavation have now strengthened its identification as a long, chamberless megalithic tomb associated with the Funnel Beaker culture.
The discovery is particularly significant because comparable monuments had been poorly represented in Greater Poland, despite clear evidence that Funnel Beaker communities lived in the region.
The Discovery
The unusual mound was identified in 2024 by Artur Golis of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship Landscape Parks Complex. Using LiDAR data, he documented a heavily levelled, elongated landform at the edge of a forest near Wyrzecz.
Its distinctive shape prompted researchers to consider whether it might be the remains of a prehistoric megalithic tomb.
Further research followed in 2025, including geomagnetic surveys and test drilling. A metal-detector survey was also conducted. The results were sufficiently promising for archaeologists to begin targeted excavation during the current field season.
Although only a limited portion of the monument has been investigated, researchers say the evidence indicates with very high confidence that the mound is artificial rather than a natural geological formation.
What Archaeologists Found
Excavations have revealed large boulders and smaller stones that appear to have formed a retaining wall around the earthen mound. These structural elements provide important evidence for the monument's construction.
The tomb is thought to have been built around 5,500 years ago by communities belonging to the Funnel Beaker culture. These were early agricultural societies that cultivated crops and raised livestock in what is now Greater Poland.
Archaeologist Danuta Żurkiewicz described the monument as one of the earliest examples of large-scale construction in the region.
Comparable Funnel Beaker monuments elsewhere could reach extraordinary lengths of approximately 130 to 140 metres. The full dimensions and original form of the Wyrzecz monument have yet to be established because only a small section has been excavated.
Researchers believe the monumental structure may have contained the burial of an important member of the prehistoric community.
Historical Background
The Funnel Beaker culture emerged among prehistoric farming communities in parts of northern and central Europe. The communities associated with the Wyrzecz monument were agriculturalists who cultivated crops and kept livestock.
According to the research presented by the excavation team, these communities in Greater Poland are thought to have developed locally rather than representing a newly arrived population.
The discovery is important for the region because megalithic tombs associated with this tradition have long been known in areas such as Kujawy in central Poland and farther west in what is now Germany.
Greater Poland, however, had until recently yielded little evidence for comparable monumental tombs. Researchers have therefore described the region as something of an archaeological “desert” for this particular category of prehistoric monument.
The Wyrzecz discovery suggests that the apparent absence may have been partly a result of monuments remaining undetected or heavily levelled over thousands of years.
Scientific Analysis
LiDAR played a crucial role in bringing the site to archaeological attention. By using laser measurements to create detailed models of the ground surface, the technology can reveal subtle earthworks that are difficult to recognise from ground level, particularly in wooded landscapes.
The Wyrzecz site has remained forested for at least 200 years according to cartographic analysis. Researchers believe this long-term woodland cover may have helped protect the faint remains of prehistoric earthworks from the intensive agricultural activity that can flatten or destroy archaeological features.
The 2025 investigations combined several techniques, including geomagnetic survey, test drilling and metal detection.
During the current excavation, researchers have adopted a deliberately limited approach. The initial trench measures only two metres by 12 metres. Soil is being removed manually in layers of approximately 10 centimetres, with each stage carefully cleaned and documented.
Photogrammetric markers and drone surveys are being used to create detailed digital records, while surveying equipment provides precise measurements. Excavated material is also being sieved to recover small artefacts that could otherwise be missed.
Among the finds are fragments of prehistoric pottery. Preliminary examination indicates that they may belong to the same communities associated with the construction of the monument.
Why This Discovery Matters
The Wyrzecz tomb could significantly expand understanding of prehistoric monumental construction in Greater Poland.
The region already contains evidence of Funnel Beaker communities, but the relative scarcity of known megalithic tombs has made it difficult to understand how local groups participated in the wider tradition of monumental burial.
The new site provides an opportunity to examine that question directly.
Its discovery also demonstrates the value of combining modern remote-sensing technology with traditional archaeological excavation. The mound was difficult to recognise on the ground, yet its elongated shape became visible through LiDAR analysis.
The site's survival within woodland further highlights the role that historic land use can play in preserving archaeological landscapes.
What's Next?
The excavation is only the beginning of the investigation. Fieldwork is expected to continue before researchers begin a longer programme of laboratory and archaeological analysis.
Samples, pottery, measurements, photographs and digital records will all contribute to the study of the monument.
Researchers will need to establish the structure's original dimensions, construction sequence and relationship to the Funnel Beaker communities that occupied the surrounding landscape. Further analysis may also clarify how the Wyrzecz monument compares with similar tombs elsewhere in prehistoric Europe.
The project is also providing archaeology students from Adam Mickiewicz University with practical field experience, allowing the investigation to combine research with archaeological training.
Conclusion
A previously overlooked earthwork near Wyrzecz has emerged as a potentially important 5,500-year-old monument built by early farming communities of the Funnel Beaker culture.
Discovered through LiDAR and subsequently investigated using geophysical survey, drilling and targeted excavation, the elongated mound has yielded structural evidence including large stones and prehistoric pottery.
For archaeologists, its importance extends beyond the monument itself. Greater Poland has long lacked a substantial record of comparable megalithic tombs, despite evidence of Funnel Beaker settlement in the region.
The Wyrzecz discovery therefore offers an opportunity to investigate how early farming communities organised monumental construction and burial practices in this part of prehistoric Europe. With detailed analysis still ahead, the researchers emphasise that the excavation is not the conclusion of the investigation, but its beginning.
FAQ
How old is the Wyrzecz megalithic tomb?
Researchers believe the monument was constructed around 5,500 years ago.
Where was the tomb discovered?
The monument is located near the village of Wyrzecz in the Śrem commune of Greater Poland, within the General Dezydery Chłapowski Landscape Park.
Who built the tomb?
The tomb is associated with the Funnel Beaker culture, whose communities practised agriculture and livestock raising in the region.
How was the monument discovered?
The site was first identified in 2024 using LiDAR data, which revealed an unusual elongated mound beneath woodland.
What has been found at the site?
Excavations have revealed large and small stones apparently forming a retaining wall around the mound, along with fragments of prehistoric pottery.
Why is the discovery important?
Comparable megalithic tombs were previously rare or unknown in Greater Poland. The monument could therefore provide new evidence about the region's early farming communities and their monumental burial traditions.
