Court cairn Facts for Kids

Various forms of court tombs. The form of the Behy court tomb is pictured top left (Hof=court, kammern=chamber).

The remains of the chamber of Teergonean court cairn

A court cairn (also called a court tomb) is a very old type of burial place. It's a large stone structure, known as a megalithic tomb. These tombs were built by ancient people in western and northern Ireland, and in southwest Scotland. In Scotland, they are sometimes called a horned cairn or Clyde-Carlingford tomb.

People built these tombs a very long time ago, between 4000 and 3500 BCE. Some were even used until the Bronze Age, around 2200 BCE. Many experts believe these were the first stone tombs of their kind in Scotland. It's thought that the way they were built might have traveled from Scotland to Ireland.

In Scotland, you can find most of these tombs in areas like Argyll and Dumfries and Galloway. This group is sometimes called the Clyde-Carlingford group. A few others have been found near Perth.

What are Court Tombs Like?
Why Were Court Tombs Built?
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What are Court Tombs Like?

Court tombs are special burial places made from large stones. They are easy to spot because of their unique oval-shaped courtyard at the front. This courtyard usually didn't have a roof.

The main burial room was made using huge stone slabs for the walls and roof. This room was usually at one end of the stone mound, called a cairn. After a burial, the entrance to the chamber was often blocked. However, it could still be reached from the outside courtyard.

These tombs are known as gallery graves. This means they have a long, narrow chamber. They are different from passage graves, which have a clear passage leading to a central room. Court tombs do not have such a long passage.

Why Were Court Tombs Built?

Court tombs usually served two main purposes. The stone chamber was used as a burial place for people who had passed away. The open courtyard in front was likely used for special ceremonies or rituals.

Ancient people, especially the first farmers of the Neolithic period, believed in life after death. Because of this belief, they often buried objects with the deceased. These items might have been things the person used in life or things they believed would be useful in the afterlife.