Some of the world’s most impressive ancient burial chambers – dolmens, stand in the green fields and copses of Wales. The dolmens, which date from Neolithic times, have been thoroughly investigated by archeologists and are protected as national monuments, and some of them are popular touristic destinations.
Just like in the case of pyramids, conventional history suggests dolmens original purpose was for burial. It definitely makes sense since in some dolmens human remains have been found, however, there are lots of other hypotheses of the dolmen’s purpose, here are few of them.
Russian scientist Rostislav Furdui hypothesized that, based on the properties of dolmens, they could be complex technical devices, namely generators of acoustic, and possibly electromagnetic, oscillations. He considered dolmens as large acoustic cavities.
Due to high concentration of the energy inside of dolmen it was considered as a healing chamber. Ancients believed if the sick person was placed into the dolmen with his/her head directed to the exit could be healed within very short time.
The dolmens served as spiritual centers for the ancients who once lived in Wales. Their religious leaders recharged their spiritual energy inside by meditating through the solstice and equinox illumination.
There is a theory that dolmens may have been used as a storage facilities 5000 years ago. The long harsh winters in which it was very hard to gather food to survive made dolmens very resourceful which resulted on the storage of necessary supplies as food, water and seeds for several groups of people for a longer period of time. The dolmen’s solid structure served as a good protection from all kind of animals, forest or steppe fires and earthquakes, and at the same time always visible over a long distances.
Location:It’s accessed by a public footpath from St Beuno Church (Clynnog Fawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL54 5PE), is beautiful positioned between the hills and the sea.
Cromlech Bach Wen. Photo © Gurcan Sarisoy
What is fascinating that the capstone is literally covered in cupmarks, not something we see very often on dolmens. Someone must have counted them because there are reported to be 110 cupmarks and 2 shallow grooves on the top of the capstone, plus 8 more on the eastern edge.
Despite the iron railings around the dolmen, it’s still a lovely location, with the sea on one side and the hills of the Llyn Peninsula on the other. With such views, it’s easy to sea why the dolmen was built here.
At dolmens, almost everyone experiences unusual, non-trivial, extraordinary things. People claim they feel and encounter events, sensations and thoughts. Everyone feels differently. Physical well-being is changed sharply and often both ways. Some people at dolmens feel boosts of energy, a comfortable state or relief from pain. Others say they feel “squeezed,” or fatigued. May be it just depends on the person’s preliminary state, preparation, spiritual and inner psychological condition.⠀
Location:Pentre Ifan is well signposted off the A487 from Newport, Pembrokeshire. 5 miles south east of Newport, off the A487. Nearest postcode SA41 3TZ
Pentre Ifan is probably the most well known and most easily recognisable prehistoric monument in Wales. Constructed about 6,000 years ago, it stands aloof on a ridge in Pembrokeshire in southwestern Wales, overlooking the Nevern Valley.
The most obvious feature of the site is the large capstone measuring 5 metres in length and estimated to weigh around 17 tons that is delicately balanced 2.5 metres above the ground by three tapering uprights.
Various legends are attached to the site including those that say it was a Druidic college or the temple of Keridwen. There are even tales of fairies with red caps have been seen at Pentre Ifan.
Location:This burial chamber is located on the Great Orme in a field at the end of Cromlech Road, Llandudno.
Llety’r Filiast, “The Lair of the Greyhound Bitch” is a much ruined chambered tomb situated high up on the Great Orme overlooking Llandudno.
The covering cairn has been extensively robbed away and much of what apparently remains is a natural hillock. When the cairn was intact, is thought to have measured about 30m x 10m and seems to have been vaguely egg shaped. The chamber stands at the SE end of the cairn remains and comprises several orthostats of equal height, and a broken capstone.
Originally the capstone probably measured about 2.5m square, but only three pieces remain today, one still in place on the surviving orthostats, one lying on the chamber floor, and one propped against the northern side slabs.
Location:St Davids, Haverfordwest SA62 6PS. Post code is a guide only. This Arthur’s Quoit is located on St David’s Head, where there is also the remains of a small prehistoric hut settlement, and can only be reached on foot. Park in Whitesands Bay and follow the coast path.
Coetan Arthur burial chamber, St Davids Head (Image Source)
The megalithic tomb dating from between 4000 to 3000 BC is one of the best-preserved of a number of burial sites clustered along the slopes of the Nevern Valley. A large wedge-shaped capstone balances on two of its four original stone uprights. Excavations of the site have uncovered artefacts including Neolithic pottery, stone tools and cremated human bones.
The ‘coetan’ part of its name is a reference to the game of quoits, often associated with monument of this type. According to legend, King Arthur himself played the game with the stone of this tomb.
There are many more dolmens across Wales, some of them are badly damaged, but all inspire the imagination. They convey a mysterious, haunting sense of times and traditions long past, with their mute evidence still standing.
References:
Caucasus Dolmens – Ancient Wisdom
The Mysterious Dolmens of the Caucasus – Ancient Origins
Dolmens – Point of View
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