Pentre Ifan

Pentre Ifan is a neolithic dolmen standing in open farmland near Nevern in Pembrokeshire. The name means ‘Ifan’s village’ in Welsh, though no village ever stood there. It is the largest and best preserved dolmen in Wales, with a massive capstone resting on three upright stones. The capstone weighs about sixteen tonnes and is nearly three metres thick. Six other stones form an entrance and block the doorway, giving the monument its distinctive shape. The site is maintained by Cadw, the Welsh Historic Monuments Agency, and protected under the Ancient Monuments Protection Act. The dolmen dates from around 3500 BC and has long been seen as a communal burial chamber. A study by Cummings and Richards in 2014 suggested it may instead have been a ceremonial monument. The huge capstone, with its flat underside, appears to float above the other stones, a deliberate effect. The builders may have wanted to show their skill or mark a significant place. Very little of the original mound remains, but kerbstones once marked its edge. Visitors find seven principal stones arranged on a grassy rise. The capstone towers above, supported by slender uprights, while two portal stones frame the entrance. The site is quiet and open, with views across the surrounding countryside. Nearby lie rows of ritual pits that predate the dolmen itself. The monument has been studied since the 17th century, when George Owen wrote of it in 1603. Today it remains one of the most striking prehistoric sites in Wales.