Carrowcastle Wedge Tomb facts for kids

The Carrowcastle Wedge Tomb is a very old stone tomb found in County Mayo, Ireland. It is a special type of ancient burial place called a "wedge tomb." Because it is so important, it is protected as a National Monument by the Irish government.

Where is Carrowcastle Wedge Tomb?

This ancient tomb is located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) southeast of a village called Ballina. It sits to the west of the Slieve Gamph mountain range. The tomb is in a quiet, rural area of County Mayo.

How Old is This Tomb?

The Carrowcastle Wedge Tomb was built a very long time ago, around 2500 to 2000 BC. This was during a time in history known as the Copper Age or the early Bronze Age. People living in Ireland during these periods used copper and then bronze to make tools and weapons. They also built impressive stone monuments like this one.

What is a Wedge Tomb?

Wedge tombs are stone burial places from the late Stone Age and early Bronze Age in Ireland. They are called "wedge" tombs because they are wider and taller at the entrance and get narrower and lower towards the back. This gives them a wedge-like shape. These tombs were often used to bury several people, possibly families or important members of a community.

What Does the Tomb Look Like?

The Carrowcastle Wedge Tomb has a large, round stone on top called a capstone. This capstone covers a small inner space, which is known as the gallery. The gallery is where the burials would have taken place. Around the tomb, you can still see a lot of cairn material. A cairn is a pile of stones, often used to cover or mark a burial site. There are also signs of an old mound of earth that once covered the tomb.