Carricknagat Megalithic Tombs

Carricknagat Megalithic Tombs are megalithic tombs and a National Monument located in County Sligo, Ireland.[1]

Carricknagat
Native name
Irish: Tuamaí Meigiliteach Charraig na gCat
Dermot & Grania's Bed and Giant's Grave
Location of Carricknagat in Ireland
Typewedge-shaped gallery grave and dolmen
LocationCarricknagat, Ballygawley,
County Sligo, Ireland
Coordinates54.334821°N 8.004539°W / 54.334821; -8.004539
Elevation63 m (207 ft)
Builtc. 4000–2500 BC
Official nameCarricknagat
Reference no.277.01

Location

Carricknagat is located halfway between Ballygawley and Ballintogher, near a source of the Ballisodare River.[2]

History

Carricknagat tombs were built c. 4000–2500 BC, in the Neolithic.

The name means "the cats' stone" or "the pine martens' stone;" ancient monuments are often said to be haunted by wild animals, possibly representing the spirits of the dead.[3]

Description

West tomb

The tomb to the west, a wedge-shaped gallery grave (wedge tomb) called the Giant's Grave, is trapezoidal in plan with the inner end of a SSE-facing gallery (4 × 2.6 m) and is divided by jambs inset in the gallery walls, with a rear chamber 2 m (7 ft) long. The outer chamber is composed of side-stones, an upright stone and four three kerb-stones.[4]

East tomb

This tomb, a dolmen, is traditionally called Dermot & Grania's Bed.[5]

References
  1. Killanin, Baron Michael Morris; Duignan, Michael V. (1 January 1989). The Shell guide to Ireland. Gill and Macmillan. ISBN 9780717115952 – via Google Books.
  2. Kearins, Nora. "Townlands". Archived from the original on 6 November 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  3. Weir, Anthony (1 January 1980). Early Ireland: a field guide. Blackstaff Press. ISBN 9780856402128 – via Google Books.
  4. https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/Archaeology-RMP-Sligo-Manual-(1995)-0044.pdf
  5. PIP. "CARRIGNAGAT COURT TOMB/MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF IRELAND.COM".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.