Tag Archive: passage tomb

Part III – Wales, the Channel Islands and Other Stone Age Sites of Britain

See Also:
Part I – Scotland: Stone Age Sites of Britain
Part II – England: Stone Age Sites of Britain

Paleolithic (2.6 million B.C. – 10,000 B.C.):  The first evidence of a human ancestor living in Britain comes from a set of 50 fossilized footprints left in an ancient streambed near the town of Happisburgh in County Norfork, England, about 850,000-950,000 B.C. These early arrivals to Britain would have come at a time when most of Britain was connected to mainland Europe via a now submerged area of the North Sea, known as Doggerland.  The Paleolithic was a time of monumental fluctuations in climate, that led to significant sea level variation, vegetation and animal life changes, and the spread and retreat of giant glacial icefields. These changes also affected the spread and retreat of early human populations, and it appears at times the complete depopulating of Britain.

Most of the evidence gathered to date comes from preserved human and animal remains, and stone tool fragments.

Video:
Doggerland Time Team Documentary (BBC)

Mesolithic (11,000 to 5,500 B.C.):  The Mesolithic in Britain is marked by the first permanent habitation of Britain by modern humans, and a gradual warming of the climate that saw a change in the landscape from Arctic tundra, to one more temperate that brought about the rapid spread of birch, pine and alder forests. The Mesolithic also saw the final submergence of Doggerland, making Britain into the island it is today.

Neolithic (4,300 – 2,000 BC): As one might imagine, the Neolithic period offers the best-preserved evidence of stone age peoples in Britain, and there are a number of archaeological sites open to the public that offer beautiful examples of the buildings and monuments they constructed. These structures are due in large part to a fundamental shift in the human story, from primitive hunter-gathers to settlement builders focused more and more on agriculture and cattle herding. With the shift to a more stable food supply, Britain also saw a growth in its population and the appearance of permanent settles and buildings designed to last.

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WALES

Capel Garmon (Find it) – Was a long barrow tomb constructed around 3,500 B.C. and has been altered somewhat from its original design, as it was used in recent times as a stable. Its entrance was in the opposite direction of the one found today because of this. Several excavations of the site have revealed both pottery and human remains. Only one of the original capstones remains, while the walls of the tomb remain embedded in the earth that surrounds it. [Short Video Tour]

Pentre Ifan, Wales (Find It) – Constructed about 3,500 B.C. Pentre Ifan is perhaps the most famous example of a Dolmen in Britain.  The capstone, the largest of the stones at the site is estimated to be 16ft long, and weigh over 16 tonnes.

Bryn Celli Ddu (Find It) – is a well-preserved passage tomb on the Welsh island of Angelsey, constructed around 3,000 B.C.The passage is about 8 meters long and is covered by a dirt mound. Found within the tomb was an unusual standing stone with curved patterns. This tomb is also constructed inside of a henge, and surrounded a ring of stone.  The tomb is aligned such that light hits the wall at the back of the passage in the days surrounding the Summer Solistice. Both burned and unburned human bones have been found during excavations of the site.

Articles:
Archaeologists use 3D imaging to shed new light on 5,000-year-old Anglesey burial mound
Archaeologists unearth prehistoric ritual area around Bryn Celli Ddu

Barclodiad y Gawres (Find It) – a Neolithic passage tomb on the island of Anglesey.  It has been heavily restored, and unfortunately in some ways that may have made it safer, but not authentic. Past excavations of the site have revealed two sets of human remains, as well the contents of a stew that had been poured over a fire built inside the tomb.  If they have a date for when they had fine dining inside the tomb, I haven’t found it.  One other thing that  Barcloidiad y Gawres is known for is the numerous carved stones found within it.

St Lythans Burial Chamber, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales (Find It) – This dolmen was constructed around 5,000 B.C.
Lligwy Burial Chamber, Anglesey, Wales (Find It) – This dolmen, is more than 5,000 years old, and when excavated in the 1900’s was found to contain the bones of multiple individuals.

Suggested Websites:

Anglesey Heritage
Wales History Map

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DOLMEN AND PASSAGE TOMBS OF JERSEY AND GUERNSEY 

At the southern end of Britain, near the coast of France are the small islands of Jersey and Guernsey. What’s remarkable about these two islands, is the sheer number of well-preserved passage tombs and dolmens found on them. I suspect some of this has to do with their relative isolation from major population centers, and the events that come with them.  So we have discussed passage tombs before, but not dolmens. The term dolmen is used liberally at times and in many cases, it’s used to described standing stones that have been capped by another often larger stone. Generally, these monuments are the markers of a tomb of one or more individuals. Dolmen also describes the stone passageways that are left behind from long barrows and passage tombs where the dirt covering over them has completely eroded away. In both cases megalithic stones, weighing tonnes are generally involved.  Dolmens can be found across the world, but interestingly, they are found in abundance in two places at opposite ends of the Earth. These regions include Ireland, Britain and the West Coast of Europe on the one end, and the Korean Penisula on the other. In the case of Europe, the majority were erected during the Neolithic, while those in Korea are more of a Bronze Age phenomenon. While one might immediately ask the question are they all related, other than they were all built by early human societies, I think the jury is still out.

JERSEY

La Hougue Bie (Find It) – is one of the best-preserved Neolithic passage tombs in Europe, and was in use from about 4,000 B.C. until 3,200 B.C. A variety of pieces of pottery, as well as the remains of at least 8 individuals, were found during excavations of the site. The passage tomb is more than 18 meters in length, and the mound above it stands over 12 meters high. As with many passage tombs, its entrance is aligned with a particular astronomical evens. In this case, the sun illuminates the far end of the chamber on the Spring and Fall equinoxes. [Short Video Tour]
La Pouquelaye de Faldouet (Find It) – Used between 4,000-3,200 B.C. this passage tomb offers a 5 meter passageway. While much of the passageway is now uncovered, but it offers a beautiful example of a passage tomb and its construction. Numerous remains, as well as grave goods, were found at the site over the course of several different excavations. [Short Video Tour]
La Sergenté (Find It) – This is one of the most interesting of the group, created in the same 4000-3,200 B.C. timeframe. It exhibits a short passage and a round interior chamber embedded in the earth. Its also believed to have had a beehive-shaped roof that collapsed leaving rubble inside the chamber.
Les Monts Grantez (Find It) – A neolithic passage tomb used between 4000 B.C.-3,200 B.C. Offers a covered passageway. During the examination of the tomb at least 8 individual burials were identified.
Le Dolmen du Couperon (Find It) – this former passage tomb was erected around 3,000 B.C. and measures 8 meters in length. It was also surrounded by eighteen outer stones in a formation known as a peristalith. The tomb has undergone partial reconstruction since it was first excavated in 1868, to fix the roof which over the centuries had collapsed.

Suggested Websites:
Jersey Heritage
Prehistoric Jersey

GUERNSEY

Le Creux es Faies (Find It). First excavated in 1840, this well-preserved Neolithic passage grave dates from 3,000 B.C. to 2,500 B.C., and was found to contain arrowheads, pottery, flint, human bones and animal remains. Over time, the tomb has found its way into Guernsey folklore, as the entrance to the Fairy Kingdom.
Dehus Dolmen (Find It) – another well-preserved passage tomb on the island dates from 3,000 B.C. to 2,500 B.C. It is best known for an unusual carving of a beared man with a bow on the underside of one of its capstones. The tomb was excavated on several occasions, and during one of those, a father and son team found a copper dagger and several rings.
La Varde (Find It) – At more than 10 meters in length, La Varde is the largest surviving passage tomb in the Channel Islands. It was occupied in roughly the same timeframe, from about 3,000 to 2,000 B.C. Excavations at the right revealed a bronze plaque, cremated human remains and various pieces of pottery. A stone circle was also found not far from the tomb.

Suggested Websites:
Visit Guernsey

Suggested Reading:

Britain Begins – Barry Cunliffe
Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland – Bryan Sykes