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Lanyon Quoit is a dolmen in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, 2 miles southeast of Morvah. It collapsed in a storm in 1815 and was re-erected nine years later, and as a result the dolmen is now very different from its original appearance.

Currently has three support stones which stand to a height of 1.5 metres
Its top, and three of the 4 original stones remain the same. The capstone (or, top), is 5.5 metres long, and weighs more than 12 tonnes (24,000lbs). When it had four supporting stones, the structure was tall enough for a person on horseback to ride under.

The area is known for its rich prehistoric history, and numerous other ancient sites
Estimated to be around 5000 years old. Lanyon Quoit is believed to have been a burial site or a tomb, where human remains and artifacts would have been placed. It may have been linked to ancestor worship or religious practices of the time.

As a neolithic structure, Lanyon Quoit provides valuable insights into the burial practices, architectural skills, and societal organization of early farming communities
It is a significant part of Cornwall’s culture and heritage.

Lanyon Quoit stands as a testament to the ingenuity and beliefs of the people who constructed it over five millennia ago. As well as those so inclined to be repairing it. What a fascinating site, for both archaeologists, and visitors interested in neolithic architecture.

Bibliography: William Borlase: Antiquities Historical and Monumental of the County of Cornwall, Bowyer and Nichols, London 1769

Tom Quinn, (2007), The archaeology of Britain: from prehistory to the industrial age, New Holland. ISBN 1845372689