Pentre Ifan Chambered Tomb

Pentre Ifan is the surviving stone framework of a Neolithic chambered tomb near Nevern in Pembrokeshire. Its enormous capstone, approximately five metres long, rests on three upright supports. The exposed stones were originally part of a burial monument covered by a mound, so today’s striking silhouette does not represent its complete prehistoric appearance. The surrounding Preseli landscape gives the tomb a distinctive setting and supplied stone used in ancient construction. Archaeologist W. F. Grimes excavated the site in 1936–37, investigating its structure and considering its relationship with prehistoric monuments across the Irish Sea. Those comparisons help place it within a wider network of early farming communities, but do not identify the individuals buried there or reveal their exact ceremonies. The monument’s importance lies in its surviving architecture and evidence for the way people created enduring places for the dead. Period: Neolithic Grid reference: SN0994037010 Protection: Source: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (Coflein), https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/101450 (Open Government Licence). This site data is from the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW), produced by RCAHMW. © Crown Database Right: RCAHMW, licensed under the Open Government Licence 3.0. Banner photo: "Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber cloudy" by Btwillseve2, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.