Kiltiernan Tomb facts for kids
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Dolmain Chill Tiarnáin
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 Location in Dublin
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| Location | Kiltiernan, County Dublin, Ireland |
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| Region | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°14′20″N 6°12′26″W / 53.238829°N 6.207119°W |
| Altitude | 174 m (571 ft) |
| History | |
| Founded | 3500–2500 BC |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | yes |
| Reference no. | 343 |
The Kiltiernan Tomb, also known as the Kiltiernan Portal Tomb or Kiltiernan Dolmen, is a very old stone structure found in County Dublin, Ireland. It's like a giant stone table, built a long, long time ago. This amazing site is protected as a National Monument of Ireland.
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Where is Kiltiernan Tomb?
The Kiltiernan Tomb is located in County Dublin, Ireland. You can find it about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) south-southeast of a place called Stepaside.
What is a Dolmen?
A dolmen is a type of ancient tomb made from large stones. People built them during the Neolithic period, which was the New Stone Age. They are often called "portal tombs" because they have a special entrance, or "portal."
Historians believe these structures were used for burials. They might have also been important places for ceremonies.
Exploring the Kiltiernan Dolmen
The Kiltiernan Dolmen sits on a small rocky shelf. It is near the start of the Loughlinstown River. The tomb faces west, towards the setting sun.
The Giant Capstone
The most impressive part of the dolmen is its huge top stone, called the capstone. This capstone is about 6.5 meters (21 feet) long. It is also 5.3 meters (17 feet) wide and 1.55 meters (5 feet) thick. Imagine, this single stone weighs around 40 tonnes! That's like the weight of about 40 small cars.
The Portal Stones
At the entrance of the tomb are two tall stones called portal stones. These stones stand upright and create a doorway. One portal stone is about 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) tall, and the other is 1.25 meters (4.1 feet) tall.
The Door Stone
Between the two portal stones, there is a smaller stone. This is called the door stone. It blocks the entrance to the chamber inside the tomb. It's like a little door that keeps the chamber hidden.
