Giants Grave

Situated on a gentle NE-facing slope. A D-shaped cairn (dims 14m E-W; 11.7m N-S; max. H 1.5m) defined by orthostats and drystone-walling contains a single megalithic chamber (dims 3.45m E-W; 2.2m N-S) with a displaced roofstone (dims 2.55m x 1.8m). The single stone at the W (H 2.45m) has a kennel-hole (dims 0.8m x 0.95m) giving access to the SW-facing porch (Wth 5m; D 4m) or court. It was excavated and reconstructed in 1953 by when hollow scrapers, thumb-nail scrapers, a leaf-shaped arrowhead and some coarse pottery were recovered, but there was no evidence of human remains (Kilbride-Jones 1974). Morphologically, it could be a court tomb or wedge tomb, and it is a National Monument (Harbison 1970, 142). (Lowry-Corry 1937; de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 58-9) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 September 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). This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 45/1936) and it is now a National Monument in state guardianship: No. 405

A Neolithic passage tomb, dating to approximately 3000–2500 BCE, characterized by its D-shaped cairn and megalithic chamber. Its construction reflects early communal burial practices and ritual significance in the Irish Neolithic landscape.