Verified51.4517° N · 3.3119° W · 80 m
Tinkinswood Burial Chamber
Tinkinswood Cromlech · Llech-y-Filliast
Early Neolithic·Severn-Cotswold Neolithic·🇬🇧 Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom
About
About Tinkinswood Burial Chamber
Severn-Cotswold chambered long cairn with massive capstone — largest in Britain at 40 tonnes, 7.3 x 4.2 m — covering collapsed burial chamber within 40 m trapezoidal cairn on ridge near Cardiff. Neolithic collective tomb c.4000 BCE with 920 skeletons fragments and grave goods from excavation 1914 by John Ward.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Transport of 40t capstone without wheels
Theories
- 01Road construction via timber sledges
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 4000 BCE
- Period
- Early Neolithic
- Culture
- Severn-Cotswold Neolithic
- Purpose
- Collective burial chamber
- Abandoned
- c.3000 BCE
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1914
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 4000 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1127 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
51.4517° N · 3.3119° W · 80 m · 1 mapped feature
Capstone
capstone40-tonne limestone capstone formerly roof of chamber
51.4517° N · 3.3119° W
Gallery