Beenalaght facts for kids
Beenalaght is a fascinating place in County Cork, Ireland, where you can see a special line of six tall stones! In Irish, it's called An Seisear, which means The Six. These amazing stones are very old and stand in a flat field near the village of Bweeng.
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Discovering Beenalaght's Ancient Stones
Beenalaght is a unique line of six huge stones, called a stone alignment. Imagine a giant ruler made of stone! One of these six stones has fallen over, but the others still stand tall.
How Big Are the Beenalaght Stones?
The stones at Beenalaght are quite impressive! They measure between 6 and 9 feet (about 1.8 to 3 meters) in height. The two tallest stones are placed at each end of the line, almost like bookends. The shortest stone is found right in the middle. Five of the stones are still standing upright, while the sixth one is lying on its side.
Where Can You Find Beenalaght?
This ancient site is located in a flat field called Reanthesure. It's about half a kilometer (0.3 miles) west of a small village called Bweeng in County Cork. If you were looking at a map, it's about 13.6 kilometers (8.5 miles) southwest of a town called Mallow. It sits on a small hill to the west of the main road that goes from Mallow to Coachford.
Who Built These Stones and Why?
Archaeologists, who are like history detectives, believe these monuments were first put here a very long time ago during the Bronze Age. The Bronze Age was a period in history when people started using bronze to make tools and weapons. This was thousands of years ago!
These stone alignments, like Beenalaght, are thought to have been special places for people in the Bronze Age. They might have been used for important ceremonies, gatherings, or as a way to mark a significant spot in the landscape. They were likely a big part of their ancient traditions and beliefs.
