Altore Wedge Tomb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Altore Wedge Tomb |
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| Native name Irish: Tuama Dinge na hAltóra |
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| Type | wedge-shaped gallery grave |
| Location | Altore, Ballinlough, County Roscommon, Ireland |
| Elevation | 116 m (381 ft) |
| Built | c. 2500–2000 BC |
| Official name: Altore Wedge Tomb | |
| Reference no. | 559 |
The Altore Wedge Tomb is a very old burial site in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is a special type of ancient tomb called a wedge-shaped gallery grave. Today, it is protected as a National Monument of Ireland. This means it is an important historical place that must be preserved.
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Where is Altore Wedge Tomb?
The Altore Wedge Tomb is found in a place called Altore. It is about 5.4 kilometers (about 3.3 miles) southwest of a town called Ballinlough. This area is in County Roscommon, in the west of Ireland.
History of the Tomb
The Altore Wedge Tomb was built a very long time ago. Experts believe it was constructed between 2500 BC and 2000 BC. This time period is known as the Bronze Age. It means the tomb is around 4,000 to 4,500 years old! People in the Bronze Age used these tombs to bury their dead.
What is a Wedge Tomb?
A wedge tomb is a type of ancient burial chamber. It gets its name because it is shaped like a wedge. This means it is wider and taller at the entrance. Then, it gets narrower and lower towards the back. These tombs were usually built with large stones. They often had a long, narrow main chamber. This chamber was covered by big flat stones that formed a roof.
Description of Altore Wedge Tomb
The Altore Wedge Tomb has a clear entrance. This entrance faces south. It is framed by two tall stones, each about 2 meters (6.5 feet) high. These stones are called facade stones. A large flat stone rests on top of these, forming a roof over the entrance. This design was typical for wedge tombs. It helped to create a special space for the burials.
