Carreg Coetan Arthur facts for kids
Carreg Coetan Arthur is an amazing ancient stone structure in Wales. It's a type of dolmen, which is like a giant stone table built a very, very long time ago. This special place is found near the town of Newport in North Pembrokeshire.
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Carreg Coetan Arthur: A Glimpse into the Past
Carreg Coetan Arthur is what's left of a Neolithic burial chamber. The Neolithic period was a time when people started farming, around 3000 BC. This means the structure is about 5,000 years old!
What is a Dolmen?
A dolmen is a type of ancient tomb or monument. It's made from large stones. Usually, there are several upright stones that support a huge flat stone on top. This top stone is called a capstone.
At Carreg Coetan Arthur, you can see a capstone that is about 4 metres (13 feet) long. It rests on smaller stones that hold it up. Imagine how strong the people were who moved these massive rocks!
How Was It Built?
Originally, Carreg Coetan Arthur would have been covered with earth. It would have looked like a small hill or mound. Over thousands of years, the earth has worn away. This erosion has left only the strong stone skeleton we see today.
Archaeologists believe these structures were used for burials. They might have been family tombs or places for important people. The exact purpose is still a bit of a mystery, but they tell us a lot about ancient life.
Protecting Our Past
Carreg Coetan Arthur is a very important historical site. It is looked after by an organisation called Cadw. Cadw is the Welsh government's historic environment service. They work to protect and care for Wales's amazing ancient buildings and monuments.
Because it's so important, Carreg Coetan Arthur is a scheduled ancient monument. This means it has special legal protection. It helps make sure this piece of history can be enjoyed and studied for many more years to come.
