Pentre Ifan, Pembrokeshire (Pembrokeshire)

Chambered tomb of the so-called 'portal dolmen' variety

Summary 13th century buildings (or older) Free admission

Introduction

Chambered tomb of the so-called 'portal dolmen' variety, dating to the Neolithic period.  

History to the present day

Pentre Ifan – the name means 'the homestead of Ifan' – is an impressive and atmospheric site near Newport in Pembrokeshire. In 1884 it was the first monument in Britain to become a Scheduled Ancient Monument, on the recommendation of General Pitt Rivers. Original sketches from that period are shown on the right.

The massive stones would have contained a chamber where the remains of the dead – probably several generations of a family group – could be placed. The walls would have been completed with dry-stone walling, and the whole covered with cobbles. Building the structure would have been a huge communal effort – the capstone weighs over 16 tons and the complete structure was 36m (120ft) long. When the site was excavated, no human remains were found, though some pieces of pottery and flint were recovered. 

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Pentre Ifan, Pembrokeshire, , United Kingdom

Opening times:

 

Open site all year round.

 

Open sites are unstaffed and open to the public with no admission charge at all reasonable times, usually between 10.00 and 16.00 daily.

 

 

Photographs courtesy of CADW photographic library.