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Gaulstown Portal Tomb
Tuama Tairseach Ghaulstown
Gaulstown Dolmen
Gaulstown Portal Tomb is located in Ireland
Gaulstown Portal Tomb
Location in Ireland
Location Gaulstown, Butlerstown, County Waterford
Region Munster
Coordinates 52°12′20″N 7°12′40″W / 52.2056°N 7.2112°W / 52.2056; -7.2112
Type Portal tomb
History
Builder Unknown
Periods Neolithic
Cultures Celtic/Viking
Site notes
Public access Yes
Reference no. 398

The Gaulstown Portal Tomb or Gaulstown Dolmen is a megalithic portal tomb situated in Gaulstown, Butlerstown in County Waterford in the Republic of Ireland. It lies about 7 km south west of Waterford City.

Location

The tomb is named for the townsland in which it situated, Gaulstown, and sits at the foot of "Cnoc an Chaillighe" or "The Hill of the Hag".

Features

The portal tomb most likely dates from around 3500 BC, and is considered one of the finest examples of portal tombs in the region, and was first recorded by George Victor Du Noyer in 1864. The tomb faces south east into the hillside, and consists of two east-facing portal stones which are 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) high, with a door stone between and a chamber consisting of three other upright stones. All of these support a rectangular capstone, which is 4.2 metres (14 ft) in length, and 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) deep. The tomb has been undergone maintenance in the past, with a concrete support added inside the chamber. There is evidence that some of the upright stones may have moved over time, as the shape of the chamber has been impacted. It is likely that the structure was once enclosed by a mound or cairn, which has since been removed or eroded away.

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