Burs | |
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  Burs | |
| Coordinates:57°15′03″N18°30′43″E / 57.25083°N 18.51194°E /57.25083; 18.51194 | |
| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Gotland |
| County | Gotland County |
| Municipality | Gotland Municipality |
| Area | |
• Total | 42 km2 (16 sq mi) |
| Population (2014)[2] | |
• Total | 329 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Website | www.burs.nu/forsta-sidan at theWayback Machine (archived 2015-07-25) |
Burs (Swedish pronunciation:[ˈbɵʂː])[3] is a populated area, asocken (not to be confused withparish), on the Swedish island ofGotland.[4] It comprises the same area as theadministrative Burs District, established on 1 January 2016.[5] As of 2015[update], Gustaf Edman from Burs was probably Sweden's tallest man.
Burs is the name of the socken as well as the district. It is also the name of the small 0.18 km2 (0.069 mi2) village surrounding theBurs Church,[6] sometimes referred to asBurs kyrkby. Located on the southeast coast of Gotland it is a flat country.[1] Part of the farmland has been gained by draining the Rone and Lye mires, as well as the Lake Burs.[7][8]
As of 2019[update], Burs Church belongs to Stånga-Bursparish in Burspastorat, along with the church inStånga.[9][10]
One of theasteroids in theasteroid belt,8681 Burs, isnamed after this place.[11]
The name Burs is derived fromburg meaning "gravel ridge" or "gravel ground".[12][8]
A hoard of 646 Romandenarii was discovered by farm workers, between Sigdes and Burs, which was published by numismatistRosa Norström in 1907.[13][14][15]
Burs dates back toMedieval times. It is the name of a larger area surrounding the medievalBurs Church.[16] It was originally part of the Bursthing, which in turn was in the southernmost of the three original districts (similar toridings) that Gotland was divided into during the Middle Ages. In 1862, it became an independent municipality. In 1952, it was incorporated into theStånga municipality and in 1971, all of Gotland became onemunicipality.[17] Theboatswains from Burs under theallotment system, were part of the Second Gotlandic Boatswains Company.[18]
Burs has a number ofBronze Agegrave mounds andstone ships. The remnants from theIron Age consists of about ten grave fields, house foundations, collapsed stone walls and grindinggrooves.[7][8][19][20]
At Sigdes farm in Burs, there is alimestonering-cross[21] dating from the later part of the 16th century.[22] According to one legend, it marks the place of an ancient battle. Another legend tells the story about a groom who died there. The cross is inscribed with and almost obliterated Latin text, which has been interpreted by L F Läffler: "This cross marks the place where Ragnvald, former vicar and now buried in Lau, was struck by death in the year of 1448 on Michael's day to whom You, oh almighty king may show kindness."[23] The cross have somerunes chiseled on the back.[22]
Karl Gustaf Emmerik Edman (also known as The Giant) (4 February 1882 – 3 October 1912) born at Bondare in Burs and died inFinland, is probably Sweden's tallest man up to date. He is listed as the eleventh-tallest in the world in theGuinness Book of Records.[24] His parents were both of normal length. When he died he was supposedly 2.43 m (8 ft 0 in) tall and weighed 240 kg (530 lb). A photograph indicates that he was in fact 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) His shoes in size 56 are still kept in a small museum in Burs. He started life as a farmhand and later toured with circuses and sideshows at markets. He married Anna Regina Edman fromJämtland and they had two children of normal size. He died oftyphus during a tour in Finland, 30 years old.[25][26]
A wooden statue of Edman has been erected in Burs at the crossroads to Busskveia.[24] The statue was made by Armin Irwahn in 1996.[27]
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