Irish megalithic tombs

Ireland has a number of megalithic monuments, typically comprising one of several types of megalithic tombs: court cairns, passage tombs, portal dolmens and wedge tombs.[1]

Court tombs

These tombs have an open east-facing entrance court which leads into a number of rectangular chambers (up to four). The chambers are roofed on the inside by corbelling. Each of these chambers may contain inhumations and cremated remains. Surrounding these chambers is a low dry stone wall with orthostats at the extremities. Sometimes they are called a lobster-claw cairn

Passage tombs
Main article: Passage grave

The passage tomb is a large mound of earth or stone with a narrow passage leading from outside to a central chamber or chambers. Examples of this type include Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth.

Wedge tombs

These tombs are generally found in the west and north west of Ireland. Their sloping roof and narrowing walls at one end produce their characteristic wedge shape.

Portal dolmens
Main article: Dolmen

They are mainly located in the northern half of the country. The tomb as a straight sided chamber often narrowed at the rear. The entrance is marked by tall portal stones. On top lies a huge single cap stone resting on the portal stones on the front and sloping at the rear where it rests on the backstone. In the majority of cases the tomb entrance faces the east towards the sunrise. This is not always the case though as many tombs face different directions. Examples of portal tombs include Kilmogue, County Kilkenny; Poulnabrone in the Burren, County Clare; and Knockeen, County Waterford.

Distribution by province

The numbers of tombs in each province of Ireland are derived from the Irish National Monument Service[2] and the Northern Ireland Sites & Monument Record. [3]

Court Tomb Passage Tomb Portal Tomb Wedge Tomb
Leinster 11 83 24 19
Munster 7 9 21 337
Connacht 197 90 44 125
Ulster 185 37 96 88

More than 1000 further "unclassified" megalithic structures are recorded.

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See also

References
  1. Valera and Nualláin (1961). Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland. Dublin: Ordnance Survey (Ireland).
  2. http://webgis.archaeology.ie/historicenvironment/
  3. http://appsc.doeni.gov.uk/ambit/Default.aspx

Sources
  • Shire Archaeology - Irish Megalithic Tombs.
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