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Unless otherwise stated, this image is the copyright of the submitter. Contact them for permission to reproduce it. |  | | Description | View of Pentre Ifan's massive capstone that appears to hover above its supports. View looking north east.
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| Posted Comments: AngieLake
(2010-02-08) | Has a chunk broken off the 'tail' end of the capstone recently, or is it just a slightly different angle here?
[I'm in awe of this set of photos Thingy!] | Thingy
(2010-02-08) | Angie, it is indeed a large chip off the old block, but it is old and weathered and so not recent. | Thingy
(2010-02-08) | Angie, there is a theory that the capstone at Pentre Ifan was always exposed; that is, it was never completely covered by a cairn of stones like many other burial sites. The surrounding cairn was built up to the level of the capstone but not above it. This arrangement would have facilitated the opening of the tomb at various times by removing or lifting the capstone. The blocking stone's position is 'impossible' in the sense that to fit it in position, it was necessary to remove - or at least lift - the capstone. The chip in the capstone's tail that you noted could be damage caused by a lever used to lift the stone at this end. It could also have been deliberately cut into the capstone for this purpose. There is sketch of the site dated 1603 that shows several other orthostats still in position then, but it appears the arrangement of the capstone and blocking stone are as they are seen today. Another illustration dated 1835 shows the same arrangement but without the additional orthostats (I'll post these when I get time). | cerrig
(2010-02-08) | http://skyandlandscape.com/pdf/Maen%20Corlan%20Samson.pdf
This may be of interest to Pentre Ifan fans. Some new research. | pab
(2010-02-08) | Thanks Cerrig - fascinating piece of work. | AngieLake
(2010-02-09) | Thanks lads. I'd never heard the theory of lifting a capstone off before. Very interesting. And the Samson research was excellent. I remember thinking those outcrops on the hill to SW were important when I was there. I love the idea of the Winter Solstice sun setting into the dolmen, too! | Thingy
(2010-02-09) | Thanks to all for these fascinating insights. I wasn't even aware of the Maen Corlan Samson site let alone its association with Pentre Ifan and surrounding summits. But I am annoyed 'cos now I can't wait to get back there for a more thorough 'browse' of the area. | pab
(2011-02-06) | Thingy - this fascinating dimension cropped up via a random image (wonderful feature Andy!) - I wondered if you'd managed to delve any deeper since your post last year? Hoping to get up there next week if/when the winds die down, and will be keen to see the Samson site featured in cerrig's link. |
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