Pentre Ifan facts for kids
Pentre Ifan Dolmen - side view
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 Location in Pembrokeshire
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| Alternative name | Pentre Ifan Cromlech |
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| Location | 1km south of Pentre Ifan hamlet, in Pembrokeshire National Park. (OS Grid ref SN099370) |
| Region | West Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°59′56″N 4°46′12″W / 51.9990°N 4.7700°W |
| Type | Dolmen |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1936-7, 1958-9 |
| Archaeologists | William Francis Grimes |
| Condition | Excellent |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | cadw.wales.gov.uk |
| Designated | 1884 |
| Reference no. | PE008 |
Pentre Ifan is the biggest and best-kept dolmen in Wales. A dolmen is a very old stone tomb or monument. This one was built by people in the Stone Age. You can find it in Nevern, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It's on land that used to belong to the Bowen family a long, long time ago.
Contents
History of Pentre Ifan
This amazing stone structure was built around 3,500 B.C. That's about 5,500 years ago! It was likely used as a burial place for groups of people.
What it Looked Like
The stones you see today are the entrance and main room of the tomb. These stones were once covered by a huge mound of earth and smaller stones. This mound would have been about 36.6 meters long and 17 meters wide.
Many of the original stones have moved over time. But at least seven of them are still in their first spot. The largest stone on top is called the capstone. It is 5.1 meters long and weighs about 16 tonnes. This giant stone sits 2.4 meters above the ground. It is balanced on the narrow tips of three upright stones. These stones create a chamber that is 3 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 3 meters high. A large stone was used to block the entrance to this chamber.
The front part around the entrance was built very carefully. It was made like a dry stone wall, using stones without any mortar.
Discoveries and Caretakers
William Francis Grimes, an archaeologist, dug at the site in 1936-1937 and again in 1958-1959. During these digs, he found small pieces of flint and pottery. These finds help us learn about the people who built and used Pentre Ifan. There were also signs that holes were dug for some kind of special ceremony long before the dolmen was built.
Today, the dolmen is owned and looked after by Cadw. This is the Welsh government agency that protects historic monuments. The site is kept in great condition, and you can visit it for free. It is about 17 kilometers from Cardigan. From Pentre Ifan, you can see beautiful views down the Nevern Valley all the way to the sea.
Images for kids
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Pentre Ifan, photographed in around 1885
See also
In Spanish: Pentre Ifan para niños
