Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery facts for kids
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Tuamaí na Ceathrún Caoile
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Two of the tombs at Carrowkeel.
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| Location | County Sligo, Ireland |
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| Type | passage tomb complex |
| Area | 2km2 |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 3500 BC - 2900 BC |
| Periods | Neolithic |
| Official name | Carrowkeel Passage Tomb Cemetery |
| Reference no. | 518 |
Carrowkeel is a special place in County Sligo, Ireland. It's home to many ancient burial sites called passage tombs. These tombs were built a very, very long time ago – around 3500 to 2900 BC! That was during the Neolithic Age, also known as the New Stone Age.
You can find them on the Bricklieve Hills, which means 'the speckled hills'. They look out over a beautiful lake called Lough Arrow. Sometimes, people even call them the Bricklieve tombs. Most of these tombs are in an area called Carrowkeel, which is how they got their name.
Close by, you'll also find the Caves of Kesh and Heapstown Cairn, other cool ancient spots. The Carrowkeel tombs are super important! They are protected as National Monuments and are one of the "big four" passage tomb cemeteries in Ireland. The others are Carrowmore, Brú na Bóinne, and Loughcrew.
Contents
Discovering Carrowkeel's Past
Early Explorations in 1911
The ancient tombs at Carrowkeel were first explored in 1911. A team led by R.A.S. Macalister, along with Robert Lloyd Praeger and Edmund Clarence Richard Armstrong, dug into these sites. They found many interesting things that helped us learn about the people who lived there thousands of years ago.
What Was Found Inside?
During the digs, they discovered animal bones and human remains, some of which were cremated. They also found tools and pottery from the Neolithic Age. A special type of pottery found in Irish passage tombs is now called Carrowkeel Ware, named after these very monuments! Some pottery from the Bronze Age was also identified.
Many of these amazing finds are now kept safe in the National Museum of Ireland. However, most of the bones were sent to Cambridge University for further study.
A Glimpse into the Past
Robert Lloyd Praeger wrote about his spooky experience when he first entered one of the Carrowkeel tombs. He described it like this: "I lit three candles and stood awhile, to let my eyes accustom themselves to the dim light. There was everything, just as the last Bronze Age man (sic) had left it, three to four thousand years before. A light brownish dust covered all... There beads of stone, bone implements made from Red Deer antlers, and many fragments of much decayed pottery. On little raised recesses in the wall were flat stones, on which reposed the calcinated bones of young children."
It must have felt like stepping back in time!
New Discoveries from Old Bones
More recently, scientists at Cambridge University studied the bones from Carrowkeel. They used new methods to learn even more. The original explorers thought the tombs were from the Bronze Age, but the new study showed they were used between 3,500 and 2,500 BC. This means they are much older, from the Neolithic period.
Scientists also looked at the bones to see where the people might have grown up. Most of them seemed to have lived near Carrowkeel. They even studied the DNA from six individuals. This DNA showed that their ancestors might have come from a place called Anatolia, which is in modern-day Turkey. Their DNA was more similar to people from the Mediterranean region than from other parts of Europe.
Exploring the Carrowkeel Complex
The Tombs and Their Location
Carrowkeel is built on high ground in the Bricklieve Mountains, looking over Lough Arrow. There are fourteen passage tombs right in the main part of the Carrowkeel area. Some of these tombs are still open, and you can even crawl through a narrow passage to enter them!
Facing the Ancient World
The entrances and passages of these tombs often point towards the North West. This direction leads to areas like Cúil Irra, Knocknarea, and Carrowmore, which are also important ancient sites.
More Tombs Nearby
Beyond the main group, there are twelve more passage tombs within about 6 kilometers. Some are in high places, like the Keshcorran group. One very large passage tomb, Heapstown Cairn, is at the north end of Lough Arrow. This cairn is part of the legendary Moytura, a place where ancient Irish gods, the Tuatha Dé Danann, supposedly fought against the demonic Fomorians.
Visiting Carrowkeel
Respecting Ancient Sites
If you visit Carrowkeel, it's very important to be respectful. Please do not climb on the monuments or damage them in any way. Also, do not take anything from inside the tombs or leave anything behind.
Folklore and Safety
Irish folklore says that it's bad luck to harm or disrespect these ancient tombs. Some people believe it could even bring a curse! The site also has some deep cracks, holes, and cliff faces, so always be careful when exploring.
Images for kids
