At least 18 people were executed on the Gallaberg (= gallows mount) near Salzhausen in the time between 1300 and 1600. Because their contemporaries believed the culprits had lost their right to a Christian burial and were consequently banned from entering heaven, they were interred without much ado near the execution ground. Two of those convicted were beheaded, their heads were buried together with their bodies. Archaeological evidence of execution grounds in Germany has very rarely been found