Doorus Demesne wedge tomb facts for kids

The Doorus Demesne wedge tomb is a very old burial place found in County Galway, Ireland. It is a special type of ancient tomb called a wedge-shaped gallery grave. This important site is also recognized as a National Monument of Ireland, meaning it is protected because of its historical value.

What is a Wedge Tomb?

A wedge tomb is an ancient stone burial chamber. These tombs were built by people living in Ireland during the late Stone Age and early Bronze Age. They are called "wedge" tombs because they often get narrower and lower from the front to the back, like a wedge. They were used to bury people, sometimes many people, over a long period.

Where is it Located?

The Doorus Demesne wedge tomb is found on the Doorus Peninsula. This area is about 2.9 kilometers (1.8 miles) northwest of a town called Kinvara. It's a beautiful spot in County Galway, Ireland.

What Does it Look Like?

This ancient tomb has a main room, or chamber, that is about 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) long and 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) wide. A huge stone slab covers this chamber like a roof. This roof-stone is very big, measuring about 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) long, 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) wide, and 0.3 meters (1 foot) thick.

On top of the roof-stone, there is a large pile of smaller stones, almost 1 meter (3.3 feet) deep. This pile is called a cairn. The heavy roof-stone and the cairn are held up by two big stones on the sides and another large stone at the back (northeast side) of the chamber.

There are also signs that there might have been an entrance area, or "gallery," in front of one of the side-stones. However, there isn't much evidence of a similar entrance on the other side. The whole monument is quite simple, with its sides and back made from single large stones, all topped by the impressive roof-stone and the stack of field stones.