What is recorded here

Megalithic tombs in this region predate written records and belong to the Neolithic period when farming communities first settled western Ireland. Court tombs served as communal burial places where generations laid their dead beneath stone roofs and earth mounds. People gathered at these gates between worlds to honour the departed and mark their claim to the land.

On N side of the valley between Ballynakill Lough and Cleggan Bay. The remains of this tomb comprise a gallery (L c. 5m, Wth 1.5m) aligned ENE-WSW. The S side of the gallery is incorporated in a fence. At E are two fine entrance jambs. The gallery is divided into two chambers by a high sill, flanked by imbricated sidestones acting as jambs. The W portion of the inner, E chamber is covered by a large roofstone. Slight traces of a mound are visible immediately N of the gallery. See also GA022-006----. (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 7-8) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). Date of upload: 05 August 2010 See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume III. Counties Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Laoighis, Offaly, Kildare, Cavan. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1972).

Court tomb, dating to the Neolithic period (c. 3500–2500 BCE). Its alignment and gallery structure reflect early ceremonial burial practices significant to prehistoric communities in Ireland.

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