Lismacrory Mounds facts for kids
|
Dumhaí Lios Mhic Ruairí
|
|
Main ringfort
|
|
 Location in Ireland
|
|
| Location | Lismacrory, Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Region | Shannon Valley |
| Coordinates | 53°02′16″N 8°01′54″W / 53.037778°N 8.031667°W |
| Altitude | 85 m (279 ft) |
| Type | cairns |
| History | |
| Material | stone, earth |
| Periods | Bronze or Iron Age (c. 2400 BC – AD 400) |
| Official name | Lismacrory Mounds |
| Reference no. | 348 |
The Lismacrory Mounds are a fascinating group of ancient mounds found in County Tipperary, Ireland. These mounds are so important that they are protected as a National Monument. They are located about 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles) north of Ballingarry and 10 kilometers (6.3 miles) southeast of Lough Derg.
Contents
Discovering Lismacrory Mounds
Imagine stepping back in time! The Lismacrory Mounds are a collection of about 20 ancient earth and stone structures. These mounds give us clues about how people lived thousands of years ago. They are a special part of Ireland's history.
What Are These Mounds?
The mounds at Lismacrory are mainly cairns. A cairn is a pile of stones built by people. For a long time, people thought these cairns were burial sites. However, experts now believe many of them are piles of stones left over from another ancient activity.
Hot Stone Cooking Sites
Many of the stone piles are thought to be leftovers from fulachtaí fia. A fulacht fiadh (say: FOO-lacht FEE-ah) was an ancient cooking site. People would heat stones in a fire. Then, they would drop the hot stones into a trough of water. This made the water boil, perfect for cooking meat or other foods. After the stones cooled, they were often discarded, forming these piles.
Other Ancient Structures
Besides the mounds, archaeologists have found other interesting structures at Lismacrory. These include ringforts, which were circular enclosed settlements. People lived and worked inside these protected areas. There are also signs of ancient dwellings and other enclosure sites. These show that the area was an important place for people in ancient times.
Life in the Bronze and Iron Ages
The Lismacrory Mounds date back to the Bronze Age and Iron Age. The Bronze Age was from about 2400 BC to 600 BC. The Iron Age followed, lasting until about 400 AD. This means people were building and using these sites over 2,000 years ago! Studying these mounds helps us understand how early Irish people lived, cooked, and built their homes.
