On 3-5 December, the International Conference “Leave no stone unturned! Megaliths in conference” was held in Sankelmark, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany). The Conference represented the annual highlight of the European Route of Megalithic Culture, certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. It was attended by many renowned experts from various European countries (Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom) in order to discuss Megaliths as a pan-European phenomenon with contributions also focusing on innovative public-oriented tourism and museum best practices.

The event was organised by the State Archaeology Department of Schleswig-Holstein and introduced by Dr Ulf ICKERODT, State Archaeology Department of Schleswig-Holstein (Germany), Mrs Karin PRIEN, Ministry of Education, Science and Cultural Affairs of Germany, Mrs Petra NICOLAISEN, German Federal Parliament, Constituency Schleswig-Flensburg, and Dr Gunnar SCHELLENBERGER, Vice-President of the German National Committee for Monument Protection.

On Thursday 3 December, Mr Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) and Director of the European Institute of Cultural Routes presented the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Programme and delivered the Accession Certificates to the new members of the European Route of Megalithic Culture network together with Mr Bodo ZEHM, Project Manager of the European Route of Megalithic Culture.

Fig 1. Group photo with new network members of the European Route of Megalithic Culture

In 2019, 4 new members from 3 countries joined the European Route of Megalithic Culture and 2 more memberships will became effective in January 2020:

1. Association for the Promotion of the Prehistoric Centre of Wildeshausen (Niedersachsen, Germany);
2. Association for Territorial Development of Campoo Los Valles (Cantabria, Spain);
3. Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta (Valle d’Aosta, Italy);
4. Salzwedel District (Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany);
5. State Archaeology Department of Schleswig-Holstein (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany);
6. State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany).

The European Route of Megalithic Culture, Cultural Route of the Council of Europe certified in 2013, explores the vast megalithic heritage through many different paths covering Sweden, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Great Britain. The Route offers hiking and cycling activities that promote a strong connection with the land, so that the traveller can explore not only the megalithic monuments but also the manifold features of the surrounding landscape.

The complete programme of the Conference is available here.