Kilcashel Stone Fort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kilcashel Stone Fort |
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| Native name Irish: Coill an Chaisil |
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| Type | stone ringfort (cashel) |
| Location | Kilcashel, Kilmovee, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Elevation | 95 m (312 ft) |
| Built | c. 2500–500 BC |
| Official name: Kilcashel Cashel | |
| Reference no. | 619 |
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Kilcashel Stone Fort is an ancient stone fort located in County Mayo, Ireland. It sits about 800 meters (half a mile) southeast of Kilmovee. This amazing structure is the last remaining stone fort of three that once stood in this area. Experts believe it was built a very long time ago, somewhere between 2,500 and 500 BC. That means it could be over 4,500 years old! It is officially recognized as a National Monument, which means it's a very important historical site protected by the country.
What is Kilcashel Stone Fort?
Kilcashel Stone Fort is a type of ancient building called a "cashel." A cashel is a circular stone fort, usually built without mortar (meaning no cement or glue to hold the stones together). These forts were often used as homes or safe places for people and their animals. They show us how people lived and protected themselves thousands of years ago in Ireland.
Exploring the Fort
Kilcashel Stone Fort is quite large. It measures about 30 meters (almost 100 feet) across. Imagine a circle that wide! The strong stone wall surrounding it is about 5 meters (16 feet) thick and stands about 3 meters (10 feet) high. This thick wall would have offered great protection.
Inside the fort, you can find some interesting features:
- A souterrain: This is an underground passage or tunnel. Ancient people used souterrains for storage, to hide from enemies, or sometimes even as a cool place to live.
- A bullaun: This is a special stone with a bowl-shaped hollow carved into it. Bullauns were often used for grinding grains or other materials. They might also have had a religious purpose.
- Collapsed houses: You can still see the remains of two houses that once stood inside the fort. This tells us that families lived here long ago.
Kilcashel Stone Fort gives us a glimpse into the lives of people who lived in Ireland thousands of years ago. It's a fascinating place to learn about ancient history and how communities built strong defenses.
