What is recorded here
Druidical Altar is a wedge tomb in County Cavan, Ireland. Its southwest-facing gallery stretches six metres between outer walls, narrowing slightly at the rear. A stone still blocks part of the entrance, as if the chamber wanted to keep its own counsel.
This is 30m E of the court tomb in the same townland (51). It consists of the remains of a SW-facing gallery flanked at either side by outer- walling. A single facade-stone survives to the S of the gallery entrance. The gallery is some 6m long and 1.5m to 1.7m wide narrowing to 1.25m at the backstone. A stone partly closes the front of the gallery. Seven sidestones are visible at the S and four at the N. Two stones, one to the N and the other to the S, continue the line of the gallery sides beyond the backstone. Five outer wall stones survive at the N and five more at the S. There appears to be some cairn material between the gallery sides and the outer wall. (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 109-10, No. 8)
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload/revision: 22 December 2008
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).
Neolithic court tomb, dating to approximately 3000–2500 BCE; it is part of a broader ritual landscape associated with early ceremonial practices in Ireland. Its orientation and architectural features reflect the symbolic and communal significance of such tombs in Neolithic society.
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
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