27th January 2026

Here I go again looking through old blogs, here and elsewhere.  But I remember during my archaeology education I had to do a viva on my subject, which was Abbey's of Wiltshire.  The scary professor I had to face was Glyn Daniel, but he was sweet and kind and passed me on my not very good answers.  

It was only at a later date that I concentrated on megaliths. the date is in actual fact 2003, only to find that Daniel had written a book on the Megalith Builders of  Europe.  He had written of one type of cromlech called sub-megalithic which translated means a capstone often only resting on two orthostats with the back resting on the ground.  It creates a three sided triangle, you can see the pointy bit on the capstone third photo down.

Constructing the Past | Blog — The Modern Antiquarian

Sub-megalithics in West Wales (or not?) | Blog — The Modern Antiquarian

This is a photograph of the double chambered tomb (or two separate ones) that lie above the coastal path half a kilometre from Whitesands carpark (SM7352 2789). WW2 platform in front. One tomb abuts the rocky face, and the capstone that has fallen could have rested on the rock face. Behind me is the view out to sea, so the tombs would be facing towards Carn Llidi.

this second capstone is fallen but Glyn Daniels thought that it might rest on the ledge shown in the picture..

Shaping.  See how this second capstone on Carn Llidi cromlechs points out to the little island

Coetan Arthur also on St. David's Head. The sepia touch was added by me, it makes such a dramatic sighting hidden amongst the rocks.  It points upwards towards a valley, behind it on the headland there is a small coastal Iron Age fort, you can still see the ring of small stones where the huts were situated.  The photo below, is looking at the environment they lived in.  Fish from the sea, maybe a few animals grazing on the bleak rock strewn ground.  Defensive stone walling, it wasn't a peaceful existence.

 

I am reading (listening) to Stone Lands by Fiona Robertson at the moment, recommended by a commentor - thank you.  Robertson, like me, escapes the sadness of loss to head for the megaliths as a form of comfort.  But of course such places bring happy memories.  Even the memory of Paul moaning away about trekking to Carn Arthur that it was much further than the half hour walk I had promised.