The gender cemetery in Lunden is an impressive testament to the history of Dithmarschen. Here lie the deceased members of wealthy, influential families from the Lunden parish.
Burials took place in the predominantly east-west oriented burial vaults, among other places. Thirteen of the original graves have been preserved. In the vaults, the coffins were placed on parallel rows of bricks or on iron racks. The barrel-vaulted crypts usually had two air shafts. The gravestones and steles weigh up to two tons and are mostly made of Weser sandstone.
The stones and vaults belonged to the respective houses or farms and were inherited or sold.
Many gravestones follow the same pattern: the four corner symbols of man (Matthew), lion (Mark), bull (Luke), and eagle (John). In the center is an angel holding the man's coat of arms in his left hand and the woman's coat of arms in his right hand.
