D17 and D18, Rolde

These two hunebeds lie close together right behind the beautiful medieval church in Rolde, only a few miles from Assen. Being within easy reach they make a popular aim for family-trips on a Sunday. In summer the place is crowded with tourists. D17 on the top picture is a large 8-capstone hunebed, but in great disorder. Only one capstone rests on its foundation stones. The rest has tumbled down, is broken or fragmented. The middle capstone is a very big one, weighing over 20 tons. Notice the old oaktree severely wounded by lightning, but still alive !

D18 in comparison is a very neat one. All 7 capstones rest very nicely on their foundation stones, but not all by themselves. One of them is being kept in place by a steel pin. 
D16
D19