Mäla ancient burial site in Muhu

Located on Mäla village on Muhu island, the burial site is fascinating because it has been used throughout different cultural periods, making it an important spot for ancient Muhu people. It is named Ussimätta (Snake sod). The oldest part dates back to ca 500 BC. The oldest burials have been placed in stone cist graves – two concentric stone circles with an outer diameter of 8 metres. In the middle, a granite stone about 1,5m high has been placed, probably to mark the centre of the graves. From the oldest part of the site, un-burned remains with pieces of earthenware have been found. Later, as burial customs changes, the site had been rearranged into rectangular graves where burned human remains have been found. At that time pyre funerals were common.  Some pieces of jewellery and a broken knife has been found from the site amongst remains dating back to the 1. and 2. century AD.