Ballykeel Dolmen Explained

54.1367°N -6.4712°W

Ballykeel Dolmen is a neolithic tripod portal tomb and a State Care Historic Monument at the foot of the western flank of Slieve Gullion, above a tributary of the Forkhill river, in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area, at grid ref: H9950 2132.[1]

The dolmen sits at the southern end of a large cairn, of approximately 30x10 metres, the north end of which also contains a cist. Its three metre long capstone, with a notable notch similar to that of Legananny Dolmen, had previously fallen, but was re-set during excavations in 1963.[2]

Excavations of the chamber revealed different types of pottery, including three highly decorated "Ballyalton" bowls, and the cist contained several hundred sherds of Neolithic pottery, a javelin head, and three flint flakes.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ballykeel Dolmen . Environment and Heritage Service NI - State Care Historic Monuments . 2011-11-07.
  2. Web site: Ballykeel Dolmen . Megalithic Ireland . 2011-11-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928092746/http://www.megalithicireland.com/Ballykeel.htm . 28 September 2011 . dead .
  3. Web site: Ballykeel Dolmen . NISMR . 2011-11-07 .