Teufelsstein, Haardt

The Teufelsstein in the Haardt mountains, near the Palatine county town of Bad Dürkheim in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, is a hill 317 m above sea level [1]. On its domed summit is a monolith of the same name (which means "Devil's Rock") [1]. Traces of human activity on the rock indicate that it acted as a cult object in former times [1]. The Teufelsstein, which gave the hill its name, is a rock formation about 2.50 metres high and up to 4 metres wide [1]. Five steps have been carved into the rock, staircase-fashion, leading to the top where there is a hollow which is thought to be a sacrifice bowl for religious rites of its former, probably Celtic users and from which a blood channel runs down the rock by the steps [1]. In addition, the rock has numerous symbols carved into it, dating to various periods [1]. As well as sun wheels, runes and Roman letters there are several markings that recall the stonemason's marks of the 12th and 13th centuries [1].