Drumskinny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Drumskinny |
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 Some of the standing stones at Drumskinny, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland |
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 Drumskinny
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| Irish grid reference | H20097072 |
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| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | BT |
| Dialling code | 028, +44 28 |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament |
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| NI Assembly |
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Drumskinny is a very old and special place in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It's famous for its ancient stone circle, which is a group of standing stones arranged in a circle. This amazing site also includes a stone pile called a cairn and a line of stones, known as an alignment.
Imagine people building this place around 2000 BC! That's about 4,000 years ago, long before castles or even writing as we know it. Today, Drumskinny is protected as a State Care Historic Monument, meaning it's a very important part of history that the government helps look after.
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What is Drumskinny?
Drumskinny is more than just a field; it's a window into the past. The main feature is its stone circle. These circles are often found in places like Ireland and Britain. People from the past built them for reasons we're still trying to understand.
The Stone Circle
The stone circle at Drumskinny is made up of several stones standing upright. They form a rough circle. It's thought that these stones might have been used for special ceremonies, to mark the seasons, or even to track the sun and moon.
The Cairn and Alignment
Next to the stone circle, you'll find a cairn. A cairn is a pile of stones, often built as a monument or a burial place. The one at Drumskinny adds to the mystery of the site. There's also an alignment, which is a straight line of stones. These alignments sometimes point to important events in the sky, like where the sun rises on the longest day of the year.
A Glimpse into the Past
Archaeologists, who are like history detectives, studied Drumskinny in 1962. They carefully dug up parts of the site to learn more about it. Their work helped us understand that this place was built around 2000 BC.
Life in 2000 BC
When Drumskinny was built, people lived very differently. This was during the Bronze Age, a time when people started using metal tools made of bronze. They were farmers, hunters, and gatherers. They didn't have cities or big towns like today. Instead, they lived in smaller communities. Building a stone circle like Drumskinny would have taken a lot of effort and cooperation from many people. It shows how important this site must have been to them.
Why is Drumskinny Important?
Drumskinny is a State Care Historic Monument. This means it's officially recognized as a very important historical site. Protecting places like Drumskinny helps us learn about our ancestors and how they lived. It also helps us understand their beliefs and their connection to the land and the sky. It's a special place that connects us to people who lived thousands of years ago.
Other Places Called Drumskinny
It's interesting to know that there are two other places in Northern Ireland also called Drumskinny. Both of these are in County Tyrone. However, the most famous Drumskinny, with the ancient stone circle, is the one in County Fermanagh.
