Ballykeel Dolmen facts for kids
Ballykeel Dolmen is a very old stone structure from the Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age. It's a special type of ancient burial place called a portal tomb, which looks a bit like a giant stone table. This important historical site is located in Northern Ireland, near the bottom of a mountain called Slieve Gullion, in County Armagh. It's protected as a State Care Historic Monument, meaning it's looked after by the government because of its historical value.
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What is Ballykeel Dolmen?
Ballykeel Dolmen is a prehistoric monument, meaning it was built a very long time ago, before written history. It's a type of portal tomb, which is a burial chamber made from large stones. These tombs were used by people in the New Stone Age to bury their dead. The Ballykeel Dolmen is sometimes called a "tripod" dolmen because it stands on three main support stones.
Where is Ballykeel Dolmen located?
You can find Ballykeel Dolmen in the countryside of County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It's nestled at the foot of the western side of Slieve Gullion, a well-known mountain. A small river, a branch of the Forkhill river, flows nearby. The exact location is marked on maps by the grid reference H9950 2132.
What does Ballykeel Dolmen look like?
The main part of the dolmen is a huge stone slab, called a capstone, which is about three meters (nearly 10 feet) long. This capstone rests on top of three upright stones. It has a unique notch, or cut-out, which is similar to another famous dolmen called Legananny Dolmen.
The dolmen itself is at the southern end of a much larger mound of stones, known as a cairn. This cairn is quite big, about 30 meters long and 10 meters wide. At the northern end of this same cairn, there's another stone structure called a cist. A cist is a small stone box or coffin, also used for burials.
What is a Dolmen?
A dolmen is a type of megalithic tomb, which means it's built from very large stones. They were constructed during the Neolithic period, roughly 4,000 to 2,500 BC. People believe they were used as burial chambers or as places for ceremonies. Many dolmens have a large flat capstone supported by several upright stones, creating a chamber underneath.
What is a Cairn and Cist?
A cairn is a mound of rough stones built as a monument or landmark, often over a burial site. In the case of Ballykeel, the dolmen is part of a larger cairn. A cist is a small stone-lined pit or box, usually found within a cairn or burial mound. It was used to hold human remains or important items buried with the dead.
What was found at Ballykeel Dolmen?
Archaeologists, who are scientists who study ancient cultures, carried out excavations at Ballykeel Dolmen. During these digs, they carefully uncovered many interesting artifacts. Inside the main chamber of the dolmen, they found different kinds of pottery. Among these were three very special and highly decorated bowls, which are now known as "Ballyalton" bowls.
The cist, the smaller stone box at the other end of the cairn, also contained many discoveries. Hundreds of pieces of Neolithic pottery, called "sherds," were found there. They also uncovered a javelin head, which is the pointed tip of a spear-like weapon, and three flint flakes. Flint was a very important material in the Stone Age for making tools and weapons.
What are "Ballyalton" Bowls?
"Ballyalton" bowls are a specific type of pottery found at Neolithic sites in Ireland. They are known for their unique shapes and often beautiful decorations. Finding these bowls at Ballykeel Dolmen helps archaeologists understand more about the people who lived in this area thousands of years ago and the types of crafts they created.
History of Ballykeel Dolmen
The capstone of Ballykeel Dolmen had actually fallen down at some point in the past. However, during archaeological excavations in 1963, the capstone was carefully re-set back into its original position. This work helped to preserve the dolmen and allowed archaeologists to study the site more thoroughly.
