Poulnabrone dolmen cracked#
Poulnabrone dolmen series#
Poulnabrone dolmen mac#

The excavations revealed up to 22 individuals were buried in the chamber - infants, children and adults, both male and female. It took place in 1986 during conservation works, when the eastern portal stone had to be replaced because of serious crack. Poulnabrone is one of the few Irish dolmens, which have been archaeologically surveyed. Tomb's chamber is covered by a single large roofstone, which is trapezoidal shape and it's 3.90m long and narrows from 2.85m wide at the east to 1.75m at the west. The entrance to a rectangular stone-lined chamber is flanked by two tall portal stones (2.05m and 1.95m), and faces north. Monument stands in a low circular mound of loose stones, measuring about 10m in diameter. It is situated on the Burren's limestone pavement just beside road R480 (more or less in half way between Ballyvaughan and Leamaneh). The monument was once covered by a cairn of stone, with the capstone left exposed.Poulnabrone is a classic example of a portal tomb and probably one of the most famous megaliths in Ireland. Clickable Map of Ireland.Īnother view of the dolmen showing the displaced backstone of the chamber. The Glinisheen wedge monument is quite close by, as is Poulawack Cairn. 51 with you if you are planning to visit here.

Poulnabrone dolmen series#

You should really have theĭiscovery Series OS map No. There are many, many more monuments in this area. More usual to find chunks of milky white quartz in megalithic monuments. Pieces of clear rock crystal were found, which is interesting, as it is Were found: a small polished stone axe head, several flint arrowheads,įlint scrapers, some stone beads and the head of a bone pin.

Types of animals, thought to indicate feasting. Finds includedįragments of pottery mixed in with the human bones and the bones of several This type of monument generally date to around 4000 BC the bones excavatedĪt Poulnabrone were dated from between 38 BC. None of the adults were over 40 years of age, and many showed The adults included a man with a flint arrow embedded

Poulnabrone dolmen cracked#

In the mid 1980's, a badly cracked side slab looked about to give way,ĭuring the dig, the bones of 21 people - 16Īdults and 5 childern were found, pushed into the grykes at the bottom Within a low cairn, traces of which can still be seen around the monument. The dolmen is the remaining portion of a chamber which once probably stood On a bus route, there is a large paved carpark with information displayed. The dolmen is easy enough to find, about halfway along the road between BallyvaughanĪnd Kilfenora, which appears to overlay an ancient routeway.

Poulnabrone dolmen mac#

This pair of mythical lovers were hunted around Ireland for sixteen yearsīy Fionn Mac Cumhail, and many dolmens are named after them, as they hadĪ habit of sleeping in megalithic structures to hide from Fionn. Of the Sorrows, and may come from a folk memory of the myth of DiarmuidĪnd Grainne. It has often beenĬompared to a bird in flight. The Irish portal dolmens, with it's elegant soaring capstone. It is certainly one of the most beautiful and graceful of The Poulnabrone dolmen is probably the most photographed megalithic monument

Probably Ireland's best known portal dolmen, Poulnabrone is found halfway between Kilfenora and Ballyvaughan, at the top of Corkscrew Hill at the centre of the Burren.