Boheh Stone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boheh Stone |
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| Native name Irish: Cathaoir Phádraig |
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| St. Patrick's Chair | |
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| Type | Rock art |
| Location | Boheh, Aughagower, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Area | 4 m2 (43 sq ft) |
| Elevation | 102 m (335 ft) |
| Height | 2 m (6 ft 7 in) |
| Built | 3800–2000 BC |
| Owner | Mayo County Council |
| Official name: Boheh Rock Art | |
| Reference no. | 296 |
The Boheh Stone, also known as St. Patrick's Chair, is an amazing ancient stone covered in special carvings. It is a type of rock art and is protected as a National Monument in County Mayo, Ireland. This makes it a very important historical site.
Contents
Where is the Boheh Stone Located?
The Boheh Stone is found about 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) southwest of Westport. It sits in a beautiful part of the Irish countryside.
Discover the History of the Boheh Stone
People believe that the carvings on the Boheh Stone were made a very long time ago. Some experts think they could be as old as 3800 BC. That's over 5,800 years ago!
How the Stone Became St. Patrick's Chair
Later, the stone became important to Christians. It was given the name St. Patrick's Chair. It became a special stop on a pilgrimage route called Tóchar Phádraig. A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place. This path used to lead from Rathcroghan to Croagh Patrick.
Rediscovering the Rolling Sun
A cool natural event called the "rolling sun" was forgotten for a long time. It was rediscovered between 1989 and 1992 by a person named Gerry Bracken. In 2014, another part of the stone with new carvings was found by Michael Gibbons.
What Does the Boheh Stone Look Like?
The Boheh Stone is one of the best examples of Neolithic rock art in Ireland. The Neolithic period was a time when people first started farming. The stone is covered in many different carvings.
Amazing Ancient Carvings
You can see about 250 different petroglyphs on the stone. Petroglyphs are designs carved into rock. Many of these carvings are called cup and ring marks. These are circular patterns with a small hollow in the middle. There are also "keyhole" shapes. The stone itself is a natural outcrop, which means it's a part of the rock that sticks out of the ground. It has shiny bits of quartz in it.
The Incredible Rolling Sun Phenomenon
Twice a year, something amazing happens at the Boheh Stone. On April 18 and August 24, if you stand at the stone, you can watch the sun set. It looks like the sun touches the top of Croagh Patrick, a mountain about 7.1 kilometers (4.4 miles) away. Then, it appears to roll down the side of the mountain! It's a truly unique sight.
