Ballyhickey Wedge Tomb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballyhickey Wedge Tomb |
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| Native name Irish: Tuama Dinge Bhaile Uí Icí |
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| Type | wedge-shaped gallery grave |
| Location | Ballyhickey, Quin, County Clare, Ireland |
| Elevation | 41 m (133 ft) |
| Built | c. 2500–2000 BC |
| Official name: Ballyhickey Wedge Tomb | |
| Reference no. | 484 |
The Ballyhickey Wedge Tomb is an ancient burial site in County Clare, Ireland. It is a special type of tomb called a wedge-shaped gallery grave. This important historical place is also known as a National Monument of Ireland.
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What is the Ballyhickey Wedge Tomb?
The Ballyhickey Wedge Tomb is a very old grave built from large stones. It's called a "wedge tomb" because it gets narrower and lower towards one end, like a wedge. These tombs were used to bury people long ago.
Where is this ancient tomb?
You can find the Ballyhickey Wedge Tomb in the Rine River valley. It's about 2 kilometers (a little over a mile) north of a village called Quin. It's also right next to the Clooney-Quin GAA sports grounds.
When was it built?
This type of tomb, the wedge tomb, was built in Ireland during the early Bronze Age. This was a time when people started using bronze tools and weapons. The Ballyhickey Wedge Tomb was likely built between 2500 and 2000 BC. That means it's over 4,000 years old!
What does it look like?
The Ballyhickey Wedge Tomb is still mostly complete. It has its original orthostats, which are the large upright stones that form the walls of the tomb. It also has its roofstones, which are the big flat stones that cover the top, like a roof. These stones create a long, narrow chamber where people were buried.
