Lligwy Burial Chamber
Lligwy Cromlech · Lligwy Dolmen · Capel Lligwy
Early–Middle Neolithic (c.4000–3500 BCE)·Neolithic Anglesey (passage grave tradition)·🇬🇧 Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom
About
About Lligwy Burial Chamber
Massive Neolithic chambered tomb with exceptionally heavy capstone estimated at 25 tonnes, among Wales's heaviest capstones, sited on low ridge above Lligwy Bay, eastern Anglesey, only 400 m east of Din Lligwy settlement. Chamber formed by eight sidestones with tall portal orthostats, originally within mound. Capstone 6.5 x 5.5 m, 1 m thick with cup-marks. Excavated revealing remains of at least 30 individuals with Late Neolithic pottery and flint. Built c.4000–3500 BCE; chamber style is portal dolmen / passage grave hybrid with Anglesey-type forecourt. Finds suggest long reuse.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01How 25-tonne capstone was transported and raised — distance of source limestone
- 02Relation to nearby Din Lligwy — Neolithic tomb vs Late Roman settlement contemporaneity
Theories
- 01Lligwy as collective ossuary for dispersed eastern Anglesey farming communities
- 02Capstone quarried locally on same limestone plateau and leveraged on earthen mound ramp
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 4000–3500 BCE
- Period
- Early–Middle Neolithic (c.4000–3500 BCE)
- Culture
- Neolithic Anglesey (passage grave tradition)
- Purpose
- Communal portal passage tomb for 30+ individuals
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 4000–3500 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1151 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
53.3495° N · 4.2518° W · 20 m · 3 mapped features
25-tonne Capstone
capstoneHuge limestone capstone 6.5 m long covering chamber, with natural cups
53.3495° N · 4.2518° WEight Orthostats Chamber
chamberEight upright limestone orthostats forming chamber walls
53.3495° N · 4.2518° WForecourt Area
forecourtSlight forecourt depression east of portal
53.3496° N · 4.2516° W
Gallery