Ault, Northern Ireland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ault, Northern Ireland
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 Ault townland in 2007 |
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| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
Ault, also known as Gowkstown, is a small area of land in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish word Allt, meaning "ravine." Ault covers about 367 acres. It is part of the civil parish of Tickmacrevan and the historic barony of Glenarm Lower.
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Exploring Ault's Ancient Past
Ault is home to a very old and important historical site. This site is a special type of ancient burial place. It is called a Wedge Tomb.
What is a Wedge Tomb?
A wedge tomb is a kind of megalithic (meaning "large stone") tomb. People built these tombs in Ireland during the late Stone Age and early Bronze Age. They are shaped like a wedge, getting narrower and lower at one end.
The Giant's Grave
The wedge tomb in Ault is known as the Giant's Grave. It is a protected historic monument. This means it is very important and kept safe. The tomb is made of many large stones. It is set within a long mound of stones called a cairn.
Inside the Tomb
The Giant's Grave has a main burial room. It also has a smaller room at the front, called an antechamber. The antechamber has a straight stone wall. The main burial room is built from several big stones. One large stone, called a lintel stone, is still in place over the top.
The Outer Structure
Around the outside of the tomb, there is a circle of closely placed boulders. More than 25 of these stones are still there. The space between this outer circle and the burial rooms is filled with smaller stones. This shows how carefully these ancient people built their monuments.
