King's Stables facts for kids
The King's Stables is an exciting archaeological site in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It's a special place where people in the past lived and worked. This ancient earthwork, which is like a big ditch or bank made of earth, is a protected historic monument. You can find it in a place called Tray, within the Armagh City and District Council area.
Contents
What is the King's Stables?
The King's Stables is a wet, hollow area that was once a man-made pool. Imagine a flat-bottomed pool about 25 meters (82 feet) wide! It was partly surrounded by a large bank of earth. This site is located about 300 meters (985 feet) north-east of another important ancient place called Haughey's Fort.
When was it built?
This amazing site dates back to the late Bronze Age, around 1000 BC. That's about 3,000 years ago! It was built around the same time as Haughey's Fort, suggesting they might have been connected in some way.
What did archaeologists find?
In 1975, archaeologists dug into the King's Stables to learn more about it. They made some incredible discoveries! They found clay moulds that were used to make bronze swords shaped like leaves. They also uncovered pieces of pottery, tools made from bone, and items crafted from wood. Even more fascinating, they found 214 animal bones and a human skull, giving us clues about the people and animals that lived there long ago.
Why is it called the King's Stables?
The name "King's Stables" comes from an old local story. People used to believe that the ancient kings of Ulster (an old kingdom in Ireland) would bring their horses to this pool to drink. They also thought the kings might have washed their chariots there!
Other places with the same name
It's interesting to know that another place, Milecastle 48 on Hadrian's Wall in England, is also called "King's Stables." In that case, the way the walls were built reminded people of horse stables.
