Broadsands Chambered Tomb facts for kids
Location | Broadsands |
---|---|
Region | Devon |
Coordinates | 50°24′19″N 3°33′33″W / 50.405280°N 3.559266°W |
OS grid reference | SX 89319 57329 |
Site notes | |
Excavation dates | 1958 |
Archaeologists | Ralegh Radford |
The Broadsands Chambered Tomb is a very old burial place from the Neolithic period. This means it was built a long, long time ago, when people first started farming. It sits on a hill overlooking Broadsands Beach in Devon, England.
This ancient tomb is considered a special historical site. It is protected as a Scheduled Monument by English Heritage, an organization that looks after important places in England. It was first recognized as a monument in 1957.
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What is the Broadsands Tomb?
The Broadsands Chambered Tomb is a type of ancient burial site. It was built using large stones, which is why it's called a "megalithic" chamber. Think of it as a room made of giant rocks.
Where is the Tomb Located?
Today, the tomb is part of a hedge bank. This bank is on hilly farmland. It's found between the sandy Broadsands Beach and the railway tracks used by the Dartmouth Steam Railway.
How Was the Tomb Built?
The tomb has a single entrance, like a doorway. This leads into the main chamber. Originally, the stone chamber was covered by a large mound of stones and earth. This mound is called a cairn. Some parts of this ancient cairn can still be seen today.
What Was Found Inside?
In 1958, archaeologists carefully dug up parts of the tomb. This process is called an excavation. During this work, they found some very old bones. These were the bones of two adults and a child. They also found pieces of pottery from the Neolithic era. These finds help us learn about the people who lived here thousands of years ago.