Skyrim:Dragon Mounds

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Dragon Mound near Kynesgrove

Dragon Mounds are ancient dragon burial sites that dot Skyrim's landscape. In appearance, they are simply large, flat, circular areas created out of two rings of paving stones. There are no map markers associated with the dragon mounds, and early in the game there is no indication that there is anything remarkable about these features. There are a total of 24 Dragon Mounds, with 22 being found in Skyrim and two dragon mounds being found on Solstheim.

The dragon mounds were created in the First Era by surviving members of the dragon cult, as documented by The Dragon War:

They built the dragon mounds, entombing the remains of dragons that fell in the war. They believed that one day the dragons would rise again and reward the faithful.

The Atlas of Dragons notes the location of a few dragon mounds, but there are few other surviving records of them or their locations.

When the return of the dragons spurs a renewed interest in dragons, the only way to locate all the mounds is to retrieve an ancient Dragonstone from Bleak Falls Barrow. The back side of the stone shows a map of Skyrim, with stars representing the location of each dragon mound. Delphine transcribes this information onto a Map of Dragon Burials, although Delphine's map is less accurate than the original stone (for example, the mound near Dawnstar is missing from Delphine's map). For more detailed information on the location of all dragon mounds, see . For a list of these locations, see this page.

As the Main Quest progresses, you learn that the dragons buried in the mounds are not truly dead, and that they are now rising up again. During A Blade in the Dark, you witness this happening when Alduin raises Sahloknir from his mound, located east of Kynesgrove . From this point in the game onward, dragons will proceed to emerge from their mounds.

States

State 1: Dormant

During this state, the dragon mound is closed and looks similar to ancient Nordic burial mounds.

State 2: Deserted

During this state, the mound will be open but the dragon will not be near the mound. However the dragon is usually found at a nearby Dragon Lair.

State 3: Awakened

During this state, the dragon has been resurrected by Alduin but the reborn dragon has stayed at the mound to gather its strength.

State 4: Resurrection

During this state, you will be able to witness Alduin resurrect the dragon from the mound, where he will then fly off and the resurrected dragon can then be fought.

Locations

Name	Hold	State	Dragon	Notes	Image
Karth River Forest	Hjaalmarch	2	No	Opens during Diplomatic Immunity.
Robber's Gorge Bluffs	Hjaalmarch	3	Yes	Opens during Diplomatic Immunity.
Labyrinthian Peaks	Hjaalmarch	2	No	Opens during Elder Knowledge.
Sea Shore Foothills	The Pale	3	Yes	Opens during Elder Knowledge.
Shimmermist Hills	The Pale	3	Yes	Opens during Elder Knowledge.
Yorgrim Resurrection	The Pale	4	Viinturuth	Opens during Elder Knowledge. If visited before Alduin's Bane, you can witness the resurrection.
Reachwater Pass	The Reach	3	Yes	Opens during Elder Knowledge.
Ragnvald Vale	The Reach	3	Yes	Opens during Elder Knowledge.
Karthspire Bluffs	The Reach	3	Yes	Opens during Alduin's Wall.
Rorikstead Resurrection	Whiterun Hold	4	Nahagliiv	Opens during Alduin's Wall. If visited before Elder Knowledge, you can witness the resurrection.
Great Henge Resurrection	Whiterun Hold	4	Vuljotnaak	Opens during Diplomatic Immunity. If visited before Alduin's Wall, you can witness the resurrection.
Lone Mountain	Whiterun Hold	3	Yes	Opens during Alduin's Wall.
Kynesgrove Resurrection	Eastmarch	4	Sahloknir	Opens during A Blade in the Dark.
Bonestrewn Crest	Eastmarch	2	No	Opens during Dragon Rising.
Witchmist Grove	Eastmarch	2	No	Opens during The Way of the Voice.
Mzulft Foothills	Eastmarch	2	No	Opens during Dragon Rising.
Bilegulch Ridge	Falkreath Hold	2	No	Opens during Alduin's Wall.
Evergreen Woods	Falkreath Hold	3	Yes	Opens during Alduin's Wall.
Bloodlet Peaks	Falkreath Hold	2	No	Opens during Alduin's Wall.
Autumnwatch Woods	The Rift	2	No	Opens during Diplomatic Immunity.
Autumnshade Woods	The Rift	2	No	Opens during Bleak Falls Barrow.
Lost Tongue Pass	The Rift	2	No	Opens during Diplomatic Immunity.
Frozen Shoals	Solstheim	3	Yes	Opens during Dragon Rising.	Frozen Shoals
Temple Foothills	Solstheim	3	Yes	Opens during Dragon Rising.

Gallery

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  Ancient map of dragon mound locations, on the back of the Dragonstone

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  Delphine's map of dragon burials made from the Dragonstone

Notes

• The dragon at Robber’s Gorge bluffs may spawn at a much higher level than your character, such as an Elder Dragon at level 25 or a Frost Dragon at level 17.