Faldouet Dolmen, Jersey, United Kingdom

La Pouquelaye de Faldouet is one of the best preserved dolmens in Jersey. A 5m long passage leads to a large circular chamber beyond which is a large capstoned end chamber. This capstone weighs approximately 24 tonnes and comes from a rhyolite outcrop 0.5km north of the site. Three small side chambers and two internal cists form the edges of the main chamber. The cists had capstones but it is unlikely that the passage and central area were ever roofed. The monument is surrounded by at least two drystone revetments and a ring of upright stones.

When it was no longer in use the site was covered by a rubble mound leaving only the capstone exposed. It was excavated in 1839, 1868 and in 1910 by the Société Jersiaise. Human bones from at least three adults and two children, one of which was a complete skeleton in a seated position in one of the side chambers were found as well as a three complete plain bowls, a small 'pigment cup', two vase supports (on which sat two of the bowls), flint tools, stone axes, rubbers, hammers, greenstone and dolerite pendants. The dolmen is one of the two Jersey monuments aligned with the solar equinox.

References:

Prehistoric Jersey

Prehistoric and archaeological sites in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Jonathan Boulle (38 days ago)
Great place to eat a couple of cakes. Simple and peaceful.

Jimmy Gray (2 months ago)
Not sure how you rate an ancient grave site?

Ian Le Breton (2 months ago)
A spectacular dolmen.

Piotr Tomaszewski (8 months ago)
"This Neolithic passage grave was built around 6,000 years ago (c. 4000-3250 BC). It consists of a passage leading into an unusual double chamber. The main chamber is open and surrounded by a series of small stone cists (boxes) while the end chamber is covered by a massive 24-ton capstone. The whole site was originally encircled by a low mound with two drystone walls and a ring of upright stones. The site was first recorded in 1682 and was excavated three times before 1910. Human remains were found in the cists and finds from the chamber include pottery vessels, two polished stone axes and two stone pendants." From Jersey Heritage website

E. Christoph Opfermann (10 months ago)
Beautifully set in a shaded cosp. Very mysterious. It's set out perfectly along an East West axis so that the rising spring and autumn equinox sun shines down its main axis.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright joiseyshowaa

Historic Site of the week

Broch of Gurness

The Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age broch village. Settlement here began sometime between 500 and 200 BC. At the centre of the settlement is a stone tower or broch, which once probably reached a height of around 10 metres. Its interior is divided into sections by upright slabs. The tower features two skins of drystone walls, with stone-floored galleries in between. These are accessed by steps. Stone ledges suggest that there was once an upper storey with a timber floor. The roof would have been thatched, surrounded by a wall walk linked by stairs to the ground floor. The broch features two hearths and a subterranean stone cistern with steps leading down into it. It is thought to have some religious significance, relating to an Iron Age cult of the underground.

The remains of the central tower are up to 3.6 metres high, and the stone walls are up to 4.1 metres thick. The tower was likely inhabited by the principal family or clan of the area but also served as a last resort for the village in case of an attack.

The broch continued to be inhabited while it began to collapse and the original structures were altered. The cistern was filled in and the interior was repartitioned. The ruin visible today reflects this secondary phase of the broch's use.

The site is surrounded by three ditches cut out of the rock with stone ramparts, encircling an area of around 45 metres diameter. The remains of numerous small stone dwellings with small yards and sheds can be found between the inner ditch and the tower. These were built after the tower, but were a part of the settlement's initial conception. A 'main street' connects the outer entrance to the broch. The settlement is the best-preserved of all broch villages.

Pieces of a Roman amphora dating to before 60 AD were found here, lending weight to the record that a 'King of Orkney' submitted to Emperor Claudius at Colchester in 43 AD.

At some point after 100 AD the broch was abandoned and the ditches filled in. It is thought that settlement at the broch continued into the 5th century AD, the period known as Pictish times. By that time the broch was not used anymore and some of its stones were reused to build smaller dwellings on top of the earlier buildings. Until about the 8th century, the site was just a single farmstead.

In the 9th century, a Norse woman was buried at the site in a stone-lined grave with two bronze brooches and a sickle and knife made from iron. Other finds suggest that Norse men were buried here too.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Faldouet Dolmen

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Great Spa Towns of Europe

History of Guernsey & Jersey

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania

Historic Site of the week

Broch of Gurness

Looks like you are a history fan!