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Ancestral Geographies of the Neolithic, Edmonds, Bender

Ancestral Geographies of the Neolithic, Edmonds, Bender

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Tinkinswood - Chambered Cairn in Wales in South Glamorgan

Submitted by TimPrevett on Sunday, 31 July 2022  Page Views: 35357

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Tinkinswood Alternative Name: Castell Careg, Llech-y-Filliast, Castell Carreg, Castell Carreg, Maes-y-Filiast, Gwal-y-Filiast
Country: Wales County: South Glamorgan Type: Chambered Cairn
Nearest Town: Barry  Nearest Village: St Nicholas
Map Ref: ST09217330  Landranger Map Number: 171
Latitude: 51.451378N  Longitude: 3.307961W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 5

Internal Links:
External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

dreamholme SumDoood Geojazz Ellpezz would like to visit

ArchAstro visited on 1st Nov 2025 www.exploreglobe.net/st-lythans--tinkinswood-investigation.html

Antikythera visited on 24th Aug 2023 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Very nice well maintained site with Cadw information board. 5 min walk across grassy fields from road with small parking area. Atmospheric and well preserved even with a large pillar underneath from a 1914 excavation.

Phillwhite visited on 21st Oct 2021 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Wonderfully quiet site. Try to visit in the morning on a sunny day when the sun floods the chamber.

Megalau visited on 26th Sep 2019 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4

ArchAstro: would like to visit Archaeoastronomy Investigation: Winter Solstice Sunrise (sun at approximate declination -23.4) along the proposed avenue just south of the tomb, looking to the southeast along an azimuth of approximately 131° (see link below) www.exploreglobe.net/st-lythans--tinkinswood-investigation.html

trystan_hughes visited on 3rd Jun 2015 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 3 Access: 4

markhewins visited on 3rd Oct 2014 Muddy track, BIG capstone. Well worth a visit!

coldrum visited on 5th Nov 2011 Lovely site but a bit muddy when I visited.

druid visited on 3rd May 2009 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4

SolarMegalith visited on 1st Jul 2008 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

Baruc visited on 1st May 1979 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

coin visited - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 3 Access: 4

GenineNeale visited - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 4

Andy B AngieLake TimPrevett TheCaptain sem DrewParsons have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.78 Ambience: 4 Access: 4

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Mark_in_Wales : Tinkinswood and Coed-y-Cwm Capstones Photogrammetry. Chambers are 1km away from each other, yet seem to have a connection. (Vote or comment on this photo)
This chambered long cairn (or long barrow) is covered by an almost rectangular mound, which has a stone cist half way along the northern side. It has a forecourt to the east created by the horns of the cairn, allowing entrance to the main burial chamber. Its capstone, at 40 tons is thought to be the largest in maninland Britain.

Access: take A 48 to St Nicholas. In the village take minor road signed Dyffryn for 500 metres. Cairn is across field on the right (sign at stile).

For more information see Coflein NPRN 94510 which tells us this is: " A chambered long cairn, c.40m ENE-WSW by 17.5m and 0.9m high, defined by drystone walling, with a megalithic chamber opening onto a recessed forecourt at the ENE end. Excavated 1914, finds included a range of Iron Age- medieval material indicating secondary use. A range of stones lie to the E & SE of this monument (NPRN 307726)".

The Journal of Antiquities also includes a page for this site - see their entry for Tinkinswood Burial Chamber, St Nicholas, South Glamorgan, Wales, which includes photographs, a drawing of the cairn, a description, directions for finding the site, and quotations from different sources of information. Their entry also includes reference sources and additional websites to check for more information, and adds: "the long and quite enormous capstone weigh(s) 40 tons or more, and also an unusually low entrance (portal)".

In the cliffhanger of a 2021 episode of Doctor Who, Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor gets transformed into a Weeping Angel at Tinkinswood burial chamber. See the comments on this page for Andy B's guide to when megalithic and prehistoric sites have featured in Doctor Who through the years

Note: Mark_in_Wales has made photogrammetry models of the capstones of both Tinkinswood and Coed-Y-Cwm about 1km away. Although they don't seem to be exactly the same rock type, look how they match up!
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Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by SteCymru14 : Maen-y-filiast (hefyd Llech-y-filiast neu Castell Carreg) yn Ne Morgannwg. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by coldrum : Tinkinswood (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Andy B : Tinkinswood Burial Chamber Source: CADW Press Release (C) CADW Site in South Glamorgan Wales (Vote or comment on this photo)

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by SolarMegalith : The burial chamber of Tinkinswood cairn with it's impressive capstone of 35-40 tons weight (photo taken on July 2008). (Vote or comment on this photo)

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by DrewParsons : The low slung immense capstone measures 7.4 metres by 4.5 metres and weighs around 40 tons. September 2010. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by DrewParsons : 6000 years ago this was an immense project for the builders. There is a rock outcrop nearby which has similar rock exposed at the surface and appears to have been worked, & as other commentators have suggested it may be the source for the capstone. However, the detailed Coflein map at field level shows "Burial Chambers" around there too. September 2010.

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by enkidu41 : ST 092733 A chambered cairn boasting the largest capstone in mainland Britain. It weighs 40 tons and measures about 24' x 15'. It is a Severn-Cotswold type tomb being slightly trapezoidal in shape and having a forecourt with chamber opening off it.

Tinkinswood Burial Chamber
Tinkinswood Burial Chamber submitted by SirLawrenceTheVain : This chamber is located in a field not far from the St.Lythan's Dolmen, and when excavated, was found to have 50 skeletons in it, dating back to the " Beaker People ". It has one of the largest capstones in Britain. You can get some idea of the size by Dawn standing below it. (2 comments)

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by spencemun : Ancient Burial Mound - Well Looked after br CADW. Photo taken on iPhone. July 2019. (1 comment)

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Kinsalegreg : View showing the huge capstone - largest in Europe? All photos I took were carefully angled to avoid the electricity lines above the site. Idiots.

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Bladup : Tinkinswood chambered cairn - a truly massive capstone.

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by DrewParsons : The horned forecourt with herringbone drywalling (restored during the 1914 re-excavations) with the capstone behind it. September 2010

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Horatio : This Neolithic tomb is topped with one of largest capstones in Britain. Measuring a massive 24ft/7m by 15ft/4.5m and weighing around 40 tons (as much as an articulated lorry), how on earth did the builders get it up there? Experts reckon that at least 200 individuals would have been required to hoist it into place. Excavations have uncovered the remains of over 50 people, along with broken pottery...

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Postman : Site in South Glamorgan Wales

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by coldrum : Capstone

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Antonine : 2008

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Antonine

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Horatio : Showing the (modern) herringbone pattern stonework that acts like wings to scoop up the suns rays on each new dawn in towards the entrance of the chamber

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by SteCymru14 : Maen-y-filiast (hefyd Llech-y-filiast neu Castell Carreg) yn Ne Morgannwg.

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Postman : Site in South Glamorgan Wales

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Postman

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by sem : Site in South Glamorgan Wales: A close up of the stone showing the many fossilised shells.

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Antonine : 2008

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Antonine

Tinkinswood
Tinkinswood submitted by Antonine

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 1.2km WNW 293° Coed-Y-Cwm* Chambered Cairn (ST08117378)
 1.3km SE 138° St Lythans* Chambered Tomb (ST10097230)
 1.4km NW 304° Cottrell Park Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (ST0804574124)
 1.5km WNW 289° Redland Farm Standing Stone (Menhir) (ST07817382)
 1.5km ENE 75° St Lythans Down Round Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (ST10717367)
 1.6km NNW 349° St Nicholas' Well (Glamorgan)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST08937484)
 1.7km ENE 64° Vianshill Round Barrow(s) (ST10717401)
 2.0km E 83° Marsyd Round Barrow(s) (ST11217352)
 2.2km SE 129° Goldsland Wood Cave Cave or Rock Shelter (ST109719)
 2.3km E 81° Quarrymen Stone* Modern Stone Circle etc (ST115736)
 3.9km NW 311° Ffynnon Deilo* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST0633975904)
 4.1km E 79° Coed-y Cymdda Hillfort (ST13297398)
 4.5km ENE 67° Caerau (Cardiff)* Hillfort (ST13377498)
 4.6km SE 133° Pencoetre Wood Barrow Round Barrow(s) (ST125701)
 4.6km NNE 31° Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans* Museum (ST117772)
 4.7km NE 34° St Fagan's Well Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST11917712)
 4.7km E 89° Cwrt-yr-ala Hillfort (ST139733)
 4.7km SW 223° Castle Ditches Fort* Hillfort (ST059699)
 5.1km N 9° Sant-Y-Nyll Round Barrow(s) (ST10077829)
 5.7km SW 223° Pen Onn Farmstead Ancient Village or Settlement (ST053692)
 6.2km S 187° Lower Porthkerry House Platform Ancient Village or Settlement (ST083672)
 6.2km S 170° Barry Gorsedd Circle* Modern Stone Circle etc (ST1018967130)
 6.3km ENE 78° Leckwith Round Barrow(s) (ST154745)
 6.4km S 179° Westward Corner Round Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (ST0916266901)
 6.8km W 260° Coed Hills Rural Art Space Modern Stone Circle etc (ST025723)
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Megalithic and prehistoric sites featured in Doctor Who by Andy B on Sunday, 21 November 2021
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So how many times now have megalithic and prehistoric sites featured in Doctor Who stories? See my Twitter thread here for the answer.

https://twitter.com/megportal/status/1462516763481059331
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3D Model of Tinkinswood by Andy B on Saturday, 20 March 2021
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3D Model of Tinkinswood

http://heritagetogether.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=146&pid=12410#top_display_media
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Re: Tinkinswood by Mark_in_Wales on Friday, 20 November 2020
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Some very interesting connections made in the last few days, having visited the site a couple of times. With the winter and brambles dying back the pair of standing stones are more clear and I never really realised that one has a flat-top and the other a pointed-top. When I was then in the chamber I noticed that there was a roughly triangular 'niche' in the large stone that makes the 'back wall' of the chamber and supports the massive capstone. When I returned today and measured both the niche and the pointed standing stone - they are a match! Also, the niche opens out in the direction of the South-West - the Winter Solstice Sunrise. This may reveal why the alignment of the main chamber actually points to 70 deg - because those who constructed it wanted this niche to point to the Winter Solstice Sunrise. And to support the Captains theory, some new LiDar imagery shows two banks along an 'avenue' also aligned to the Midwinter Solstice Sunrise - and the pair of standing stones were in the middle of this avenue! Forum post with photos to follow soon.... Link to Forum Discussion
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Re: Tinkinswood by ArchAstro on Tuesday, 06 November 2018
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Has anyone ever attempted to map all of the possible features at the site (or that used to be there) based on their observations and/or the photographs here? If so can we get a link or a post? Thanks!
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The Orientations of Neolithic Chambered Tombs in Glamorgan and Gwent by Andy B on Tuesday, 23 January 2018
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The Orientations of Neolithic Chambered Tombs in Glamorgan and Gwent Counties by Martin J. Powell

The chambered long cairns that are the subject of this study form the western extremity of a class of Neolithic chambered tomb referred to as the Cotswold-Severn group. They are typified by their relatively small chambers set within a long trapezoidal or oval shaped cairn, one end from which opens a cusp-shaped forecourt defined by two protrusions or 'horns'. The chambers may be set either terminally (immediately behind the forecourt) or laterally (opening from the sides of the cairn). The tombs are thought to have been constructed during the early to middle Neolithic period in Britain, i.e. throughout the fourth millennium BC. Few have been thoroughly excavated and the poor condition of many of those remaining often prohibits a definitive assessment of their original form. Most have now lost their covering cairns and the only visible feature is the chamber proper.

The tombs under study occupy the lowland region of the South Wales seaboard from the Gower peninsula in the West, across the Vale of Glamorgan to Gwent in the East.

The majority of tombs in this region are terminally chambered; the remainder are of miscellaneous type. A number of them are in a sufficiently good condition for their orientations to be recovered with reasonable accuracy and then studied as a group. This assessment will seek to establish whether any favoured orientations can be recognised in the group, and if so whether astronomical events can be proposed to partly or wholly explain them.

http://www.aenigmatis.com/archaeoastronomy/neolithic-tombs/south-wales.htm
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Huge fire lit within the Tinkinswood burial chamber. by Andy B on Tuesday, 16 May 2017
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Rebecca Exley writes: I also witnessed the fire within the Tinkinswood burial chamber.

When I asked the man to put the fire out, he gave the same excuses.

We were out clearing the footpath with Prince’s Trust volunteers who were very shocked at the incident.

I reported the fire to CADW who visited the site soon afterwards, and they reported the details to the police.

Photo at
http://www.glamorgan-gem.co.uk/article.cfm?id=113576

Original letter: "Outrage at treatment of Tinkinswood ancient site – a letter to The GEM".
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    Re: Huge fire lit within the Tinkinswood burial chamber. by Shawdian on Wednesday, 17 May 2017
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    Did this person give you a reason for his vandalism ? Such a shame some have no respect nor care.
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    Re: Huge fire lit within the Tinkinswood burial chamber. by Anonymous on Wednesday, 17 May 2017
    What sacrilege!
    Haven't these people heard of shredders to get rid of papers? Let's hpe they don't bring their furniture next time!
    Seriously, this should not be allowed, ever. Take action, Cadw and landowner!
    [ Reply to This ]

Sound and performance in public archaeology, creative engagement at Tinkinswood by Andy B on Thursday, 11 August 2016
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Sound and performance in public archaeology: examining the benefits of outdoor learning with creative engagement at the Neolithic site of Tinkinswood burial chamber, south Wales by Ffion Reynolds

This paper explores a community archaeology project which took place at Tinkinswood chambered tomb and its surrounding landscape in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. The project formed the school outreach element of the Tinkinswood Community Archaeology Project which included the excavation of three particular areas – two possible fallen burial chambers and the possible quarry for the 40-ton capstone used at Tinkinswood.

The children involved were given the chance to explore different ways of experiencing and interacting with the past through music and drama and by working outside of the school environment at Tinkinswood itself. The collection of interviews gathered reveal how the children perceive the Neolithic past, and especially about the way they felt more free, spontaneous, and natural through expressing ideas about the past at Tinkinswood itself, as opposed to being in the classroom. The results suggest that community archaeology can be used to ask big philosophical questions about mortality and religion, providing a new way to approach sensitive topics, without privileging one worldview over another.

Paper at
https://www.academia.edu/8611626/
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Tinkinswood and St Lythans Heritage Walk by Andy B on Monday, 05 January 2015
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This circular walk visits both Tinkinswood and St Lythans Burial Chambers, in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales and gives stunning views across the Ely Valley before returning to its start in the village of St Nicholas.

Distance: 9.2km (5 ¾ miles)
Time: 3 ½ hours
Map: OS Explorer 151
Start/Parking: St Nicholas is on the A48 between Cardiff and Cowbridge. Park near the church on the north side of the village (grid reference ST 090743).

Cadw sites: Tinkinswood Burial Chamber and St Lythans Burial Chamber — unstaffed sites, open 10am–4pm

More here
http://tinkinswoodarchaeology.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/tinkinswood-and-st-lythans-heritage-walk/
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Re: Tinkinswood by PYak1967 on Friday, 25 July 2014
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Hi ALL!!!

I had a great visit tonight, arrived so just at the right time and was stood looking for a decent photo, when the sun dropped and literally blasted me in the face and was "almost" setting on top of the burial chamber. It was so warm, sunny and tranquil an amazing visit for me, did this site about 30yrs ago when it was cold and grey, still as worthwhile in winter/summer and very easy to get to.

Will upload my pics when I sort/edit them.
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Children recreate ancient ritual at Tinkinswood burial chamber by Andy B on Thursday, 21 November 2013
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March 2012: Beating drums and wearing the clothes of their ancient ancestors, schoolchildren have been discovering the hidden history on their doorstep.

The youngsters from St Nicholas Primary School in the Vale of Glamorgan were at the prehistoric Tinkinswood burial chamber where they recreated an ancient ritual ceremony through live performance.

Children aged between 10 and 11 began their research with a trip to the National Museum Wales to explore what life was like for Neolithic people around 6,000 years ago, before visiting the site.

Through a series of workshops at the schools and on site, the children created their own clay pots to reflect on the artefacts found at Tinkinswood – a Neolithic burial chamber in the Vale of Glamorgan – as well as learning how to make sounds like their ancestors using voices, instruments and music technology combined with music and drama in preparation for their performance.

More at
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/children-recreate-ancient-ritual-tinkinswood-2034686

See also
Re-enacting a 6,000-year-old ritual can coax youngsters into caring for the past
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/re-enacting-6000-year-old-ritual-can-coax-2034848
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Re: Tinkinswood by Anonymous on Thursday, 02 February 2012

You should advertise guided tours of the area, as you seem to know it so well. Bet quite a few people would be interested.

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Roman coin found as part of possible Roman burial at Tinkinswood by Andy B on Thursday, 10 November 2011
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Final Dig Diary for Tinkinswood

The weather has been extremely kind to us and we have managed to fulfill all of our objectives and answer all of the questions we originally posed. Of course, there was the last minute rush, as always happens on excavation! So to the (preliminary!) findings of the excavations:

The Bronze Age Barrow
The small Bronze Age barrow in the field adjacent to Tinkinswood farm is typical of the type of burial monuments built about 4000 years ago. These were fairly modest monuments, built to contain a single burial or small number of burials. The burials were generally placed in pits or cists dug into the ground below the monuments, and then covered by a stone or earthen mound.

We think we have found the location of the original burial(s) even if we did not actually find any traces of bones or grave goods. I must admit that this was slightly disappointing, but we can only find what is there to be found!

Our most surprising find of the weekend was associated with the secondary burial cut into the top of the monument. Below a rock next to the location of this burial was a Roman coin! Not at all what we were expecting, although it is not unknown for Roman burials to be put into much earlier monuments and this is what seems to have happened at Tinkinswood. It does show that the monument was still visible and still respected 2000 years after it had been built, which is very interesting.

The possible standing stone has turned out to be field clearance (or a Victorian attempt to mimic a fallen prehistoric monument as was discussed at length on site). The trench we excavated to see if we could find a socket looked promising at first, but the feature we thought was a socket turned out to be disturbance from a tree. Looking at the profile of the soils it looks as though the stone was actually moved into place fairly recently as a layer of modern material was found underneath one end of it. Another slight disappointment, but at least we have cleared up the mystery of the large slab.

Read more at
http://tinkinswoodarchaeology.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/final-dig-diary-for-tinkinswood/
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More background about Tinkinswood by Andy B on Saturday, 15 October 2011
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As visible today, Tinkinswood is in a restored state following extensive excavations in 1914 by John Ward, first Keeper of Archaeology in the National Museum of Wales.

The restoration gives a good impression of how megalithic tombs like this would have appeared in the past, although originally the capstone and the south side would have been completely covered with an earthen mound. It is set in a sloping valley with views to the south-west towards Barry.

The site lies above a small stream, which has cut through the limestone. Geologically it is in an area of Triassic formation. It would have been an attractive place for Early Neolithic activity or settlement, with a water supply close by, soil suitable for cultivation, and with a variety of locally available lithic materials.

Considerable patches of rock are exposed as you approach Tinkinswood to the left, in which great tabular masses are seen in their full thickness. This site is known as ‘The Quarry’ – a name probably suggested by its appearance, recognised as a suitable area to quarry for stone, and perhaps the origins of the mud-stone used at Tinkinswood itself. This area will be cleared to reveal the stones.

Read more at
http://tinkinswoodarchaeology.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/some-background-information-about-tinkinswood-2/
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Revealing the past through clearance at Tinkinswood by Andy B on Saturday, 15 October 2011
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It’s been really busy at Tinkinswood, lots of vegetation clearance, but also lots being revealed. We are in the last stages before the excavations begin on the 22nd of October, working to remove all those trees and brush, and all by hand.

The excavations will be open each weekend: 29th/30th of October, and the 5th/6th of November. Tours will be at 11am and 2pm.

Read the blog post (with photos) by Carl Newis, who volunteers with BTCV.

http://tinkinswoodarchaeology.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/revealing-the-past-through-clearance-at-tinkinswood/

and one from Rebekah Nash, who is a Geography student from the University of Glamorgan:

http://tinkinswoodarchaeology.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/my-experiences-with-btcv-at-tinkinswood/
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Community archaeology dig about to start at Tinkinswood by Andy B on Saturday, 15 October 2011
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Community archaeology to study Vale’s archaeological mysteries

The Neolithic sites of Tinkinswood and St Lythan’s have long been landmarks in the Vale of Glamorgan. An innovative Cadw funded Community Archaeology project, in partnership with Archaeology Wales, hopes to shed new light on these iconic sites.

The project, which includes scientific excavations around Tinkinswood and at St Lythan’s for the first time, will have the community at its heart. A local group led by the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers will take part in vegetation clearance, followed by a team of community volunteers assisting with the excavations.

Excavation at Tinkinswood burial chamber originally took place in 1914, conducted by John Ward who was then the Keeper of Archaeology at the National Museum of Wales. The remains of 50 people were originally found inside the chamber: men, women and children. The monument is aligned length-ways towards the rising sun to the east and the curve of the forecourt may suggest that it was built to catch and hold the rays of the morning sun.

There are large patches of rock exposed on the approach to Tinkinswood in an area known as ‘The Quarry’ – perhaps the source of the capstone used at Tinkinswood – the largest in Wales at a colossal 40 tonnes. This project will re-visit those investigations and examine other features in the immediate vicinity – excavating two possible fallen burial chambers and the quarry site in the nearby field.

St Lythan’s burial chamber, like Tinkinswood, is known as a Cotswold-Severn style tomb. It dates back some 6000 years to a time when farming was introduced, a period is regarded as one of the biggest changes in human history. Perhaps most significantly of all, these communities began to build tombs like the one at St Lythan’s.

The chamber now consists of three upright stones with a capstone weighing up to 35 tonnes. How the capstone was raised, how long it was used and who was buried here are questions that remain unanswered since the site is unexcavated. Excavations at St Lythan’s will begin to unpick these questions, providing much needing dating evidence, and a chance for archaeologists to explore how Neolithic burial chambers were constructed.

People in the Neolithic are also known to have deliberately broken, and given away their most treasured possessions. An outreach project entitled 'Make and Break' proposes to create an educational event in March 2012 as two local schools make – and then break – their own prehistoric artefacts, recreating a Neolithic ritual ceremony at Tinkinswood itself.

Along with Archaeology Wales, other partners in the project, which takes place throughout October and November, include the Council for British Archaeology, Cerddora, Cardiff University School of History, Archaeology and Religion and the National Museum of Wales.

The excavations are open to members of the public for site tours at weekends during October, November and December.

Source: CADW press release
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Re: Tinkinswood by coldrum on Friday, 16 April 2010
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Street View

Just visible.


View Larger Map
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Re: Tinkinswood by coldrum on Wednesday, 06 January 2010
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Stones at Tinkinswood.

http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/307726/details/TINKINSWOOD%2C+STONES/
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Re: Tinkinswood Aerial Pic by Anonymous on Wednesday, 04 March 2009
I grew up in Welsh St. Donats (just down the road) & passed the sign a million signs but it's only now that I'm living in Aberdeenshire & doing an archaeology course that I realise what I've missed. Definitely on the "to do list" next time I'm home.
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Tinkinswood Aerial Pics by coldrum on Tuesday, 10 July 2007
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Re: Tinkinswood Aerial Pic by Anonymous on Saturday, 26 May 2007
hello I've known the stones for over twenty years they never fail to disapoint although I feel the vibration is taken away by the nearby electric pylons coming up from Aberthawe power station, I once camped on the stones on a midsummer with an old friend I was awoken by old echo of celebration fires and drumming I was a bit scared as I was quite young my friend could not be woken I did'nt peek out of the tent we were alone I know. For me the little woods at the back are packed with energy I like the way people leave little things in the trees I always try and leave something there
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Tinkinswood's Extent by TimPrevett on Sunday, 29 April 2007
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I was here enjoying the sun and stones just 12 hours ago, and also have to opine that the number of stones in the area make me think there were a number of tombs around. I've travelled far to view chambers that are lesser than those surrounding the star attraction here, and yeah, verily yeah, I reckon there was a lot going on here.
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Re: Tinkinswood Aerial Pic by TimPrevett on Tuesday, 13 March 2007
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Superb aerial pic of the site here

http://www.coflein.gov.uk/wales_screenres/DI2006_1996.jpg
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Re: Tinkinswood by nicoladidsbury on Friday, 03 November 2006
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I've heard a rumour that the stone avenue has been removed by the new owner of the field. Does anyone know if this is true? Also reported that the nearby stream was diverted and the chamber became flooded?
Surely not true???
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    Re: Tinkinswood by templar on Monday, 30 April 2007
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    I was there last spring/summer and there was evidence that a number of stones had been moved with a tractor in an adjoining field, but I have no idea if they were anything ancient. I was there with a friend who took some photos and will see if I can get them posted.
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Re: Tinkinswood by Anonymous on Friday, 04 August 2006
certainly a great site. I'd never heard of it, but saw a sign and followed the road. I was most mpressed and noticed the various other rocks or heaps too. Was looking for more info when came across this site. Great.
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Re: Tinkinswood by Anonymous on Saturday, 21 May 2005
not to far from here in llaliston is a chamber with a hugh cap stone go to llaliston at the a48 is a roundabout with a house walk up the hill and at the top turn left and you will find it it is huge and a collapsed cave /chamber not far from it this is not on the os map take a look and report what you think
greg
i live in bridgend
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Re: Tinkinswood by Robc on Sunday, 22 August 2004
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Just to add to the confusion of the site I would like to quote Robert Harris in His book "Walks in Ancient Wales"

"It was originally covered with a long mound in the shape of a stylised female torso, the outline of which is still clearly visible."....

"The enterance, which was placed between the'legs' of the cairn, was lined with drystone walling built in a herringbone pattern, and has also been restored. This entrance would have been bricked by and only open occasionally for important cermimonial events."

This gives the impression that the purpose of the site may be used in a somekind of rebirth ritual or linked to female goddess of which later celtic beliefs evolved into, such as Sabrina a Celtic river goddess of the Severn.

It is strange that the chamber is in the Cotswold-Severn style. And all these types chambers seem to situated near the Severn River or the Bristol channel (where the Severn flows into) as the case of the chambers on the Gower.

Is it an early chamber dedicated to the goddess that would become the Celtic goddess Sabrina?

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Re: Tinkinswood by sem on Friday, 13 August 2004
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Captain,it's lovely when someone agrees with your ideas of a site.
Personally I think this was a HUGE centre of religion/burial. There are two stones at ST081742 and ST078737 which may be parts of it,and a funny looking lump at ST087741 (my brother's words not mine).The land here is fertile and has been farmed for millenia so most signs of Neolithic activity will have been erased,which means my theory will never be proved.But like you it's lovely to believe it.
Incidently,I have not been into the"quarry"area and viewing it from the outside have always thought it was another chamber.
Thanks for enlightening me.
Sem
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Re: Tinkinswood by TheCaptain on Monday, 09 August 2004
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While visiting Tinkinswood with my Dad a couple of weeks ago, we could hardly fail to be impressed with the size of the capstone. What a lovely tomb this is.

But more intriguing were the other rocks and stones in the vicinity. I knew the layout of the main chamber before I visited, but was surprised to find so many other stones and what looked like structures there were in the area. Since my visit, and before I got round to posting this, Sem has also commented on this, and added a few pictures. After visiting the main site, We spent some time looking at the other stones in the region.

The first to be noted, while walking across the fields to the chamber fropm the little parking area, were some large stones in the field on the left (to the south). Closer inspection of this and it looked like this was the remains of another burial chamber, with a fallen dolmen type of structure, with other stones making out what could have been other chamber stones, or some sort of entrance. Looking carefully and the remains of a mound can be made out.

Further on towards the main chamber, and again to the left of the pathway, and there are some large stones in a sort of pile in the hedgerow. All around in this region is an outcropping of a thick slablike rock, which has been used to make the structures. It is possible that these stones have just been moved and dumped into the hedgerow as part of a field clearance. However, it is also possible to my eyes, that these are the remains of some sort of tomb.

Still further towards the main tomb, at the gateway used to get from one field into that which the main chamber lives in, are a couple of fairly large standing stones. These also look fairly ancient. Is it possible that they some ancient stone remains, or are they simple the remains of an old stile ?

The field to the south of here (the main tomb is to the north) I was intrigued by some rock outcrops which seemed to have some form other than just the natural. Investigating this, and I could not fail to notice what seemed like a stone avenue which lead directly to the two large standing stones at the stile. The alignment of this avenue would have been directly to the entrance and main forecourt of the main tomb. It is possible that this is not actually a stone avenue, but perhaps a trackway cut into the bedrock (the 2 foot thick slabstone) with what looks like stone uprights being remnants of the slab. But why would anyone do this ?

In the wooded area surounding the main chamber, there appear to be many more stones, either standing or fallen. Some of these are more clearly seen from the fields around the outide of the fenced region of the large barrow remains.

One of the more fascinating things I found is in a little wooded copse to the southeast of the main chamber, between the "avenue" field, and the "dolmen" field. Inside this dark little wood, the natural rock outcrop can be seen clearly at the surface of the ground, as about a two foot thick slab, horizontally positioned on the surface. The real interesting thing here is that this slab has been quarried at some time in the distant past, perhaps by being burrowed underneath before breaking large slabs off. Well by now I might have been imagining things, but I would have put money on one large bit of the slab that was removed being a match for the massive Tinkinswood capstone. It seems that not only the size and shape were a good match, but also the thickness. Had I found the quarry from where the massive stones of the chamber were taken. It was lovely to think so.

The area Tinkinswood chamber is obviously so much more than just the large barrow and tombs. Perhaps the entire local landscape is of monumental importance. It would be nice to know if anything else is known.
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