The Dolmen of Duisburg
Having done my epic tour of western Belgian megaliths, I realised that I didn't have any photos of the one closest to us, so took U on an expedition to photograph it this afternoon. In the grand park behind the Africa Museum in Tervuren, three stones, now referred to as a "dolmen" (although they do not even touch each other, let alone form a structure) were placed at the intersection of seven woodland paths.
They are large but not obviously structured, suitable for smaller people than U to clamber on. Having been moved from the nearby village of Duisburg (not to be confused with the large German city of the same name), it is now still called the Duisburg Dolmen.
An early postcard shows them fenced off from the public, but also declares that they are in fact simply parts of an erratic stone from the glacial period.
I don't have a strong view on that; I will say that initially I was very suspicious about the Belgian habit of moving megaliths from their original locations for the sake of farmers - Irish farmers seem to manage OK - but on reflection I can see that it's nice to put them where everyone can see them, and they occupy a sort of position of honour. (Cf also the menhir at Neerwinden.)
They are large but not obviously structured, suitable for smaller people than U to clamber on. Having been moved from the nearby village of Duisburg (not to be confused with the large German city of the same name), it is now still called the Duisburg Dolmen.
An early postcard shows them fenced off from the public, but also declares that they are in fact simply parts of an erratic stone from the glacial period.
I don't have a strong view on that; I will say that initially I was very suspicious about the Belgian habit of moving megaliths from their original locations for the sake of farmers - Irish farmers seem to manage OK - but on reflection I can see that it's nice to put them where everyone can see them, and they occupy a sort of position of honour. (Cf also the menhir at Neerwinden.)