Altanagh facts for kids
Altanagh is a small area of land, called a townland, located in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It's part of a historic region known as the barony of Omagh East and the civil parish of Termonmaguirk. This townland covers about 971 acres, which is roughly the size of 735 football fields!
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What's in a Name?
The name Altanagh comes from the Irish words altan ach. This means "abounding in cliffs or glens." So, the name tells us a bit about the landscape of the area, suggesting it has many steep valleys or rocky slopes.
A Look at the Past: Altanagh's People
During the 1800s, the number of people living in Altanagh slowly went down. For example, in 1841, there were 223 people living in 39 houses. By 1891, the population had decreased to 138 people, living in 33 houses. This shows how communities can change over time.
Discovering Ancient History
Altanagh is home to an important historical site: an ancient burial mound. This mound is a protected historic monument. Archaeologists have explored it to learn about the people who lived here long ago.
What Was Found?
Inside the burial mound, researchers found special pits and urn burials. These urns contained cremated bone, meaning the remains of people who had been burned. Three unique pots, called cordoned urns, were also discovered. Scientists have used special dating methods to figure out how old these urns are. They date back to between 1890 and 1450 BC. This means the mound is over 3,400 years old!
