What is recorded here
Carnavanaghan holds a Neolithic passage tomb where ancient people directed vital life forces through stone. Later Christians called it the Vicar's Cairn or Monk's Cairn, suggesting human hands kept returning to the same dead place across centuries. The chamber still waits beneath its stones, preserving the patience of people who believed death was a doorway rather than an ending.
The official Northern Ireland record identifies this as PASSAGE TOMB: VICAR'S CAIRN or CARN-NA-VANACHAN or CAIRNAMNHANAGHAN or THE MONK'S CAIRN. Recorded period: NEOLITHIC; PREHISTORIC. Recorded protection: Scheduled. The official map point was placed at the centre of the recorded archaeological site from the source map reference.
Neolithic passage tomb, dating to the prehistoric period, associated with early ceremonial and burial practices in the region. It is a Scheduled Monument, indicating its recognized archaeological and historical significance.
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
Places near here
Vicar's CairnArchaeological place · 6 yd
ENCLOSURE in BallymacanabENCLOSURE · 1.6 mi
First Presbyterian ChurchChurch · 3.0 mi
Methodist ChurchChurch · 3.0 mi
CASTLE: GOSFORD CASTLE in Gosford DemesneCASTLE: GOSFORD CASTLE · 3.1 mi
Gosford CastleCastle · 3.2 mi
CHURCH & GRAVEYARD: TASSAGH GRAVEYARD in TassaghCHURCH & GRAVEYARD: TASSAGH GRAVEYARD · 3.3 mi
Gosford Forest Park - Red TrailWalking route · 3.3 mi
Gosford Forest ParkForest · 3.3 mi
Armagh Rail Disaster Memorial SculptureMemorial · 4.0 mi
Armagh County MuseumMuseum · 4.1 mi