Saruppladsen - back to the stoneage

Saruppladsen – sometimes referred to as the “village of the dead souls” – is a prehistoric ritual and burial site near the village of Sarup, not far from Haarby on southwest Funen. In use between roughly 3400 and 2800 BC, it played an important role in Stone Age practices around death and burial. Archaeologists regard the site as so significant that its name has been adopted for similar facilities of the same type elsewhere in Denmark and in other parts of Europe. Today it is a place to reflect on early farming communities and their relationship with death and ritual.

Stop at Saruppladsen if you are interested in prehistoric archaeology and want to see where major Stone Age rituals once took place. The site’s importance is such that “Sarup” has become a reference term for similar sites in Denmark and across Europe. It is mainly a short, focused visit rather than a long excursion.

Worth a short detour if you are interested in Stone Age ritual sites and archaeology.

Planning your visit

How long to stay

30-60 minutes

Best time to visit

Daylight hours in the drier months make it easier to walk the ground and imagine the Stone Age landscape. Combine a brief visit with other stops in the Haarby and Assens area as part of a wider day on southwest Funen.

Around here

Nearby on the Margueritruten

• Haarby - Kærlighedsstien - Love Path

  Park · 2.1 km

• Assens City - history

  Attraction · 2.2 km

• Haarby Vådområde

  Park · 2.4 km

• Jordløse Bakker sheltere, walking and riding tracks

  Park · 2.8 km

• Shelter site in Trunderup forest

  Park · 3.5 km

• Jordløse Bakker hills

  Park · 4.0 km

Frequently asked

What is Saruppladsen and why is it called the village of the dead souls?

Saruppladsen is a prehistoric ritual and burial site near the village of Sarup, close to Haarby on southwest Funen. It is sometimes called the “village of the dead souls” because it played an important role in Stone Age practices connected to death and burial between about 3400 and 2800 BC. The name reflects its focus on the dead rather than on everyday settlement life.

How old is Saruppladsen and what period does it belong to?

Saruppladsen dates back to the Stone Age and was used roughly between 3400 and 2800 BC. In this period, early farming communities developed complex rituals around death and burial. The site’s long use and clear ritual function have made it an important reference point for understanding this phase of prehistory in Denmark and beyond.

Why is Saruppladsen considered so important by archaeologists?

Saruppladsen is regarded as having very high cultural‑historical value because it played a significant role in Stone Age death and burial rituals. Its layout and finds have become a model for understanding similar ritual and burial facilities. The site is so characteristic that the name “Sarup” is now used for comparable sites of the same type both in Denmark and elsewhere in Europe.

How much time should I plan for a visit to Saruppladsen?

Saruppladsen is best seen as a short, focused stop on a wider drive around Funen. Many visitors will be satisfied with around half an hour to an hour, enough to walk the area, read any on‑site information if available, and get a sense of its Stone Age context before continuing to other nearby places such as Haarby or Assens.

Can I combine a visit to Saruppladsen with other nearby sights on Funen?

Saruppladsen combines well with other short stops in the local area. You could, for example, visit the Stone Age ritual site and then continue to Assens to explore more recent history, or take a walk near Haarby. This makes it easy to fit into a wider day exploring southwest Funen by car.

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