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Coetan Samson Burial Chamber is a prehistoric chambered tomb located in Wales, protected by Cadw as a scheduled monument under reference CM046. The structure sits upon bedrock composed of Ashgill Rocks, undifferentiated strata of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone deposited during the Ashgill epoch. These grey marine sediments, laid down in ancient seas over 440 million years ago, form the stable foundation upon which Neolithic builders positioned their megalithic construction.
The chamber itself represents the characteristic architecture of Wales's prehistoric funeral practices, consisting of stone slabs arranged to create an internal burial space. The name Coetan Samson—combining the Welsh *coetan* (small cave or chamber) with a personal name—suggests local historical association, though the monument's true origins lie in the Neolithic period, several millennia before recorded history.
Today, the tomb survives as a testament to the engineering skill and ritual investment of prehistoric communities. Its preservation under modern legal protection reflects recognition of its archaeological and cultural significance, offering insight into burial customs and settlement patterns across Bronze Age and Neolithic Wales.
Coetan Samson Burial Chamber is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CM046. View the official record →
Coetan Samson Burial Chamber is a prehistoric chambered tomb located in Wales, protected by Cadw as a scheduled monument under reference CM046.
Coetan Samson Burial Chamber dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a chambered tomb. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Coetan Samson Burial Chamber is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is CM046.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Crugiau Fach Round Barrows (3.5 km), Crug Gwyn Round Barrow (4.2 km), Crug Fach Round Barrow (4.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Coetan Samson Burial Chamber's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Coetan Samson Burial Chamber stands on Ashgill Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Ashgill. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.