Cohaw Explained

Coordinates:54.1°N -10°W
Location:Cootehill, County Cavan
Embedded:
Embed:yes
Designation2:National Monument of Ireland
Designation2 Offname:Cohaw
Designation2 Number:456[1]

Cohaw is a Neolithic double court tomb located 4 kilometres south-east of Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland. The tomb lies on a ridge overlooking a small tributary of the Annagh river.

History

Court-tombs are among the earliest megalithic monuments to be built in Ireland, and there are more than three hundred examples in the country. Court tombs often include a ceremonial courtyard set in front of a burial vault. Courts were built in a variety of shapes, with oval or circular forms predominating.[2]

County Cavan has a large number of megalithic tombs, including eighteen court tombs. Cohaw was excavated by archaeologist, Howard Kilbride-Jones, in 1949. The excavation finds consisted of teeth, skull fragments, and the cremated remains of a child. A carinated, round-bottomed Neolithic bowl was also uncovered. An unusual feature to the site at the time of excavation was a bow-shaped bank across the entrance to the north court. The tomb lies on a ridge overlooking a small tributary of the Annagh river.[3]

Description

Cohaw is a neolithic double court tomb located 4 kilometres south-east of Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland and is visible from the R192 road between Shercock and Cootehill. The tomb is known locally as the "Giant's Grave" and was originally built as two single tombs. Each tomb consists of a court at each end, connected by a long, five chambered burial gallery. The south court is two thirds of a circle in shape, while the north court is u-shaped. The northern court contains two post holes that would have held large pillar-stones. The tomb stands in a 82 ft (25m) long rectangular cairn.[4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Monuments of County Cavan in State Care . 1 . heritageireland.ie . National Monument Service . 2 July 2020.
  2. Web site: O' Nuallain . Sean . The Megalithic Tombs of Ireland . Penn Museum . 6 July 2020.
  3. Book: Halpin . Andrew . Newman . Connor . Ireland: An Oxford Archaeological Guide to Sites from Earliest Times to AD 1600 . 2006 . Oxford University . New York.
  4. Web site: Cohaw Court Cairn, Cairn in Cavan. Find all Cavan Travel and Tourist information in Ireland . 2011-03-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080516072754/http://www.goireland.com/cavan/cohaw-court-cairn-attraction-cairn-id13177.htm . 2008-05-16 . - goIreland.com, Cohaw Court Cairn
  5. Web site: Cohaw Court Tomb . Megalithic Ireland . 6 July 2020.