Geology - The Stone of Westerklief
The Stone of Westerklief is Wieringen's most well-known reminder of the
ice age during which the Wieringen landscape was formed. As far back as
the people of Wieringen can remember, this stone has been standing upright
on the heights of Westerklief. Nobody knows why the rock is here, or who
set it upright. Because of the nearby discoveries of the two Viking treasures,
it is tempting to speculate on a possible link to uprighted rocks in Denmark
and Sweden. But there is nothing to indicate that the Stone of Westerklief
was placed here by Vikings.
What we do know is the origin of the rock. It consists of somewhat coarse
to very coarse, somewhat purplish sandstone. (in some layers, the grain
size is large enough to be considered conglomerate). This type of rock
is found in east central Sweden and the Baltic Sea area north of Stockholm.
The rock is about 1 million years old (Precambrian).
Recently, the stone was moved to a more accessible spot, nearer to the
road.
Last updated: 19-3-2002