Ballylumford Dolmen facts for kids
Ballylumford Dolmen is a really old stone structure in Northern Ireland, on a place called Islandmagee. People sometimes call it the "Druid's Altar." It's like a giant stone table, made of four big stones standing up with a huge flat stone on top. Imagine finding something this old right in someone's front garden – because that's where it is! This amazing monument might be around 4,000 years old, or even older.
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What is Ballylumford Dolmen?
The Ballylumford Dolmen is a special type of ancient tomb called a portal tomb. It's also a "State Care Historic Monument," which means the government helps protect it because it's so important to history. You can find it in the area of Larne Borough Council, specifically in the townland of Ballylumford.
Finding the Ancient Stones
This ancient monument is located on a peninsula called Islandmagee, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It's pretty close to the Ballylumford power station. You can find it right on the B90 road, between Mill Bay and Ballylumford. It's quite unique because it sits in the front garden of a house!
Uncovering the Mystery of Dolmens
A dolmen is a type of ancient tomb or burial chamber. The Ballylumford Dolmen is made of four large stones standing upright, with a very heavy, flat stone placed on top. Inside, there's also a fallen stone. Experts think this stone might have been used to block the entrance to the tomb. These structures were often built over burial chambers in ancient times.
How Old is It?
This amazing stone structure is incredibly old! It could be around 4,000 years old, dating back to about 2000-1600 BC. Some experts even think it might be the remains of an even older type of tomb called a passage grave. This means it was built long, long ago, even before the Bronze Age in that area.
What Was It Used For?
Archaeologists, who are like history detectives, have found old items under the dolmen. These discoveries suggest that the dolmen stood over a burial chamber. This means it was likely a place where important people from ancient times were buried. The area around the dolmen also shows signs that people lived there during the Bronze Age, which was a time when people started using bronze tools and weapons.
