Craigs Dolmen Explained

Craigs Dolmen (also known as the Broad Stone) is a megalithic tomb in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is south of Ballymoney, off Finvoy Road, at a height of 200m on the Long Mountain.[1] Craigs Dolmen passage tomb is a State Care Historic Monument in the townland of Craigs, in Borough of Ballymoney. Its grid reference is C9740 1729.[2]

Features

It features a big capstone on seven upright stones and [3] is wrongly assumed to be a dolmen, actually being a passage tomb.[4] Lightning broke the capstone in 1976. It was restored in 1985, and excavation revealed that the chamber was the remnants of a passage tomb at the time. It was most likely erected before 2000 BC, although it was re-used for burial throughout the Bronze Age.[5]

The large capstone over the entrance and the first chamber of this 3-chambered tomb was re-erected using an upright stone at the rear which probably was not an original feature. The almost semicircular forecourt faces south-east. The Broad Stone was only a popular place for meetings and assemblies.[1]

Nearby site

On the other side of the road and 800m south-west is a small passage tomb. Seven close, tall uprights support a flat capstone measuring 210x160cm. On the south-west side, two fallen stones may be the remains of a short passage. No cairn survives.[1]

See also

External links

54.9936°N -6.4785°W

Notes and References

  1. Book: Weir, A. 1980 . Early Ireland. A Field Guide . Blackstaff Press . Belfast . 95.
  2. Web site: Craigs Dolmen . Environment and Heritage Service NI - State Care Historic Monuments . 2007-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120722033155/http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/state_care_monuments_2007.pdf . 2012-07-22 . dead .
  3. Web site: Craigs Dolmen, Rasharkin . The Causeway Coast and Glens . 2007-12-05 . https://archive.today/20130119044026/http://www.causewaycoastandglens.com/Explore/TownsandVillages/Ballymoney/tabid/409/Default.aspx . 2013-01-19 . dead .
  4. Web site: Craigs Dolmen . Ballymoney Borough Council - Heritage and Environment . 2007-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071012182125/http://www.ballymoney.gov.uk/htmlsite/heritagedetails.asp?id=13 . 2007-10-12 . dead .
  5. Web site: Craigs Dolmen . Irish Antiquities . 2007-12-05.