Capel Garmon – burial chamber

History

   The tomb in Capel Garmon was built in the third millennium BC. It was built during the Neolithic period by the early agriculture communities that inhabited the surrounding areas. Its uniqueness lies in the similarity to the tombs distant by 160 km, near the River Severn in south-eastern Wales, which in turn makes it likely, some form of contact between these areas. Although the neolithic remains of Beaker culture pottery have been found in Capel Garmon, excavations suggest that the burial chamber was used longer and was probably eventually sealed at the end of the Neolithic or early Bronze Age.

Architecture

   Originally, the tomb consisted of an earth-stone mound in which, from the entrance on the south side, a passage led to a central, square chamber. From there, the tomb branched east and west into two circular chambers. The walls and ceilings of the tomb were supported by stone slabs arranged without the use of mortar. The mound had a form similar to a trapezoid with a length of 30 meters and a width of about 15 meters. with two bulges on the east side. The whole was surrounded by smaller stones.

 

Current state

   Until today, there is no earth mound covering the burial chamber, and only the western chamber is covered with a 14-ton stone slab. The present entrance to the tomb was created in the nineteenth century, when the monument was used as a stable. Entry to the burial chamber area is possible for free, every day from 10.00 to 16.00.

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bibliography:
Castleden R., Neolithic Britain: New Stone Age sites of England, Scotland and Wales, London 1992.
Website coflein.gov.uk, Capel Garmon burial chamber.
Website stone-circles.org.uk, Capel Garmon Neolithic Chambered Long Cairn.