Gaulstown Portal Tomb facts for kids
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Tuama Tairseach Ghaulstown
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 Location in Ireland
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| Location | Gaulstown, Butlerstown, County Waterford |
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| Region | Munster |
| Coordinates | 52°12′20″N 7°12′40″W / 52.2056°N 7.2112°W |
| Type | Portal tomb |
| History | |
| Builder | Unknown |
| Periods | Neolithic |
| Cultures | Celtic/Viking |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | Yes |
| Reference no. | 398 |
The Gaulstown Portal Tomb is an ancient stone structure in County Waterford, Republic of Ireland. It is also known as the Gaulstown Dolmen. This special tomb is a type of megalithic structure. "Megalithic" means it was built using very large stones. It is located near Waterford City.
Contents
What is a Portal Tomb?
A portal tomb is a type of dolmen. These are ancient burial sites from the Neolithic period. They were built by early farmers. A portal tomb usually has two tall stones at the front. These are called portal stones. They form an entrance. A large capstone rests on top of these stones. Other stones form a chamber behind the entrance.
Where is the Gaulstown Tomb?
This tomb gets its name from Gaulstown. This is the local area where it stands. It is found at the bottom of a hill. This hill has a cool name: "Cnoc an Chaillighe". This means "The Hill of the Hag" in Irish.
How Old is the Gaulstown Tomb?
The Gaulstown Portal Tomb is very old. Experts believe it was built around 3500 BC. That's about 5,500 years ago! It is one of the best examples of these tombs in the area. A person named George Victor Du Noyer first wrote about it in 1864.
What Does the Tomb Look Like?
The tomb faces towards the south-east. It points into the hillside.
- Portal Stones: It has two tall stones at the front. They are about 2.4 meters (almost 8 feet) high.
- Door Stone: A smaller stone sits between these two. It acts like a door.
- Chamber: Behind the entrance, there is a chamber. It is made of three other upright stones.
- Capstone: A huge rectangular stone sits on top. This is the capstone. It is about 4.2 meters (nearly 14 feet) long. It is also 1 meter (about 3 feet) thick.
Over time, the tomb has been looked after. Some concrete was added inside to help support it. The stones have moved a little over thousands of years. This has changed the shape of the chamber.
Was There More to the Tomb?
It is thought that the tomb was once covered. It might have been inside a large mound of earth or stones. This type of mound is called a cairn. Over many centuries, this mound has worn away. Now, only the stone structure remains.
