List of archaeological sites in County Armagh facts for kids

County Armagh in Northern Ireland is like a giant outdoor museum! It's packed with amazing archaeological sites that tell us stories about people who lived here long, long ago, and even during more recent history. Archaeologists are like detectives who dig up clues from the past, and in Armagh, they've found everything from ancient tombs and forts to old canals and wartime buildings.

These sites help us understand how people lived, what they believed, and how they defended themselves. Let's explore some of the cool discoveries in County Armagh!

Ancient Tombs and Burial Sites

People have been burying their dead in special ways for thousands of years. In County Armagh, you can find different types of ancient tombs.

Megalithic Tombs

These are very old tombs made from large stones. The word "megalithic" means "big stone."

• Aughnagurgan has a megalithic tomb at grid ref: H8697 2861.
• Clontygora has two megalithic tombs, one at grid ref: J0980 1974 and another at grid ref: J0962 1834.
• Latbirget is home to a megalithic tomb called the Giant's Grave, found at grid ref: H9939 2162.

Dolmens and Portal Tombs

A dolmen is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually made of three or more upright stones supporting a large flat capstone. A portal tomb is a specific type of dolmen.

• Aghmakane has a portal tomb known as the Long Stones, at grid ref: J0204 2525.
• Aughadanove features a portal tomb called the Oul’ Grave, at grid ref: H9991 2063.
• Aughnagurgan also has a portal tomb at grid ref: H8704 2859.
• Clonlum has a round cairn (a mound of stones) with a portal tomb, called the South Cairn, at grid ref: J0461 2063.

Passage Tombs and Court Tombs

A passage tomb is a narrow passage made of large stones and usually covered with earth or stone, leading to a burial chamber. A court tomb has an open court area at the entrance, leading to a burial chamber.

• Carnavanaghan is home to a passage tomb known as Vicar's Cairn, at grid ref: H9141 3974.
• Clonlum has a court tomb called the North Cairn, at grid ref: J0447 2136.
• Eshwary might have a court tomb at grid ref: J0270 2867.

Cairns and Barrows

A cairn is a human-made pile of stones, often built as a memorial or landmark, sometimes over a burial. A barrow is a mound of earth or stones raised over a grave or graves.

• Carrickastickan has a round cairn at grid ref: J0238 1535.
• Carrickbroad features a round cairn with a cist (a small stone-built coffin-like box), called Cofracloghy, at grid ref: J0383 1477.
• Dorsy (Cavan O'Hanlon) or Roxborough has a multiple cist cairn called the Moate, at grid ref: H9548 2175.
• Tullybrick (Hamilton) has a barrow at grid ref: H7528 3953.
• Tullymore features a cairn or barrow known as Niall's or O’Neill's Mound, at grid ref: H8618 4414.
• Tullyvallan has a round cairn called Harry Mount, at grid ref: H9140 2317.
• Tynan has a barrow at grid ref: H7715 4206.

Ancient Forts and Settlements

Many sites in County Armagh show us where people lived and how they protected themselves.

Ringforts and Cashels

Ringforts are circular areas enclosed by one or more banks and ditches, built for defense and living. A cashel is a stone-built ringfort. They were common in Ireland during the Early Medieval period.

• Aghmakane has a cashel at grid ref: J0206 2526.
• Ballenan has a rath (another name for a ringfort) at grid ref: J0340 3697.
• Ballygorman has a rath at grid ref: J0207 3464.
• Ballymore features a rath called Forthill, at grid ref: J0323 4743.
• Carrickastickan has several raths, including one with a souterrain (an underground passage or chamber), at grid ref: J0237 1443.
• Carrickbroad has a cashel and souterrain called Issacashel, at grid ref: J0506 1468.
• Corliss has a rath and souterrain called Corliss Fort, at grid ref: H8928 1689.
• Dundrum features a multivallate rath (meaning it has multiple banks and ditches) called Gordon's Fort, at grid ref: H8695 3496.
• Killeen has two cashels: Lisdoo at grid ref: J0815 2102 and Lisbanemore at grid ref: J0782 2013.
• Kiltybane or Lisleitrim has a multivallate rath at grid ref: H9035 2072.

Crannogs

A crannog is an artificial island, usually built in a lake or bog, used as a dwelling or refuge.

• Ballytyrone has a crannog in Lough Gall, at grid ref: H9101 5150.
• Doogary and Portnelligan share a crannog at grid ref: H7831 3862.
• Glasdrumman has a crannog at grid ref: H9645 1470.
• Kiltybane or Lisleitrim has a crannog in Lisleitrim Lough, at grid ref: H8983 2042.

Large Enclosures and Hilltop Forts

These are big areas enclosed for protection, often on hilltops.

• Ballyards has an enclosure at grid ref: H8647 4136.
• Balteagh features a large hilltop enclosure at grid ref: H7978 4038.
• Haughey's Fort in Tray townland is a very large hilltop enclosure at grid ref: H8351 4529. It's one of the most important prehistoric sites in Ireland!
• Shean has a hilltop enclosure called Carrickinaffrin, at grid ref: J0040 1523.

Earthworks and Linear Features

Earthworks are large features made by changing the shape of the land, like ditches or banks.

Dane's Cast

The Dane's Cast is a long, linear earthwork, like a huge ancient boundary ditch. It's visible in several places.

• You can see parts of it in Aghayalloge, from grid ref: J056 214 to J060 208.
• Other sections are found in Ballinliss, Goragh, Seafin, Killycapple, Killyfaddy, Latmacollum, and Lisnadill.

The Dorsey Entrenchment

• Dorsey and Tullynavall contain a large earthwork and enclosure known as the Dorsey Entrenchment, located between grid ref: H936 190 and H955 197. This was a massive defensive barrier.

King's Stables

• In Tray townland, near Haughey's Fort, is an earthwork called the King's Stables, at grid ref: H8388 4546. This was a ceremonial site where important events might have taken place.

Standing Stones and Crosses

Standing stones are tall, upright stones, often placed by ancient people for unknown reasons, perhaps for ceremonies or as markers. Crosses are carved stones, often from early Christian times.

• Ballard has a standing stone called the Long Stone, at grid ref: J0162 2337.
• Corran features a standing stone known as the Grey Stone, at grid ref: H9085 3524.
• Longstone has a standing stone called the Longstone, at grid ref: H8788 4656.
• Mullaghglass has a standing stone at grid ref: J0558 2862.
• Carrickcroppan has a boulder with a cross carved into it, at grid ref: J0333 2819.
• Corfehan is home to the Tynan Island Cross, at grid ref: H7578 4168.
• Tullyvallan (Tipping) West has a cross-carved stone at grid ref: H9274 2333.

Other Interesting Sites

Votive Site

A votive site is a place where people left offerings, often to gods or spirits.

• In Ballybrolly, Drumcoote, Navan, Tullyargle, and Tyross, there's a votive site and where four amazing Iron Age horns were found. This place is called ‘Loughnashade’, at grid ref: H8518 4540. These horns are very famous!

Medieval and Later Sites

Archaeology isn't just about ancient times; it also includes more recent history.

• Corporation (Armagh) has a Medieval dry-built masonry well at grid ref: H8772 4504, and a windmill stump at grid ref: H8701 4517.
• Charlemont has an Artillery fort called Charlemont Fort, at grid ref: H8538 5578.
• Coney Island in Lough Neagh has a prehistoric settlement, a motte (a type of castle mound), and a tower called Coney Keep, around grid ref: H938 640.
• Creevekeeran has Creevekeeran Castle, at grid ref: H7847 3710.
• Maghery (Derrywarragh Island) has a tower and enclosure called the O’Connor Stronghold, at grid ref: H9299 6425.

World War II Pillboxes

These are small, concrete guard posts built during World War II to defend against possible invasions.

• Annagh has a World War II Pillbox at grid ref: J0138 5241.
• Ballydonaghy has one at grid ref: J0438 5131.
• Edenderry has a pillbox at grid ref: J0139 5457.
• Hacknahay has one at grid ref: J0401 5131.
• Knock has a pillbox at grid ref: J0413 5124.

Newry Canal

The Newry Canal is an old waterway that was used to transport goods. It's an important piece of industrial history.

• The canal is visible at many points, including in Cloghoge, Fathom Lower, Fathom Upper, Lisdrumgullion, Carnbane, Goragh, Kilmonaghan, Kilrea, Knockduff, Demoan, Drumbanagher, Killybodagh, Aughantaraghan, Federnagh, Tullynacross, Aughlish, Brannock, Druminargal, Monclone, Terryhoogan, Brackagh, Cargans, Mullahead, and Tullyhugh.

These are just some of the many amazing archaeological sites in County Armagh. Each one offers a glimpse into the lives of people who shaped this land long before us!