Dooey's Cairn facts for kids
Jun2008.jpg)
Part of the court
|
|
 Location in Northern Ireland
|
|
| Alternative name | Ballymacaldrack Court Tomb |
|---|---|
| Location | near Dunloy, County Antrim |
| Coordinates | 55°0′5.6″N 6°24′15.8″W / 55.001556°N 6.404389°W |
| Type | Court tomb |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
Dooey's Cairn, also known as Ballymacaldrack Court Tomb, is a very old site in Northern Ireland. It dates back to the Neolithic period. This was a time long ago when people first started farming. You can find Dooey's Cairn near Dunloy in County Antrim.
The site is named after Andrew Dooey. He used to own the land where the monument stands. In 1975, his family gave the site to the state. Today, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency helps to look after it.
What is a Court Tomb?
Court tombs are special ancient monuments. They were built during the Neolithic period, from about 4000 to 2000 BC. There are around 400 of these tombs in Ireland. Most of them are found in the northern part of the island.
A court tomb has an open area at the front. This area is often surrounded by tall, upright stones or stone walls. This open space was likely used for important ceremonies or social gatherings. Behind this court, there is usually a burial chamber.
Exploring Dooey's Cairn
Dooey's Cairn is a very well-preserved example of a court tomb. Most court tombs are built facing north and south. However, Dooey's Cairn is a bit different. Its U-shaped court faces towards the south-west.
The court itself is made up of eleven tall, upright stones. At the entrance to the main chamber, you'll see two large stones called portal stones. When archaeologists dug here in 1935, they found polished stone axes right under these portal stones.
Amazing Discoveries
Behind the main chamber, there are two more portal stones. These lead into a long passage, about 6 metres (20 feet) long. This passage is very unique. It is sometimes called a "cremation passage."
Archaeologists explored this passage in 1975. They found that it once had a wooden roof and a floor made of small stones. Inside, there were three pits. These pits held the cremated bones of five or six adult humans. Dooey's Cairn is the only court tomb in Ireland with this kind of cremation passage.
During the excavations, four ancient pots were also found. These pots are now on display at the Ulster Museum.
