List of archaeological sites in County Tyrone facts for kids

County Tyrone in Northern Ireland is full of amazing ancient places that tell us stories about people who lived here thousands of years ago. These special spots are called archaeological sites. They include everything from old burial grounds and forts to mysterious stone circles. By studying these sites, archaeologists help us understand how ancient communities lived, what they believed, and how they built things.

This list explores some of the most interesting archaeological sites you can find across County Tyrone. Get ready to discover ancient tombs, strong forts, and puzzling stone arrangements!

Ancient Burial Places and Tombs

Many of County Tyrone's archaeological sites are ancient burial places. These range from simple graves to large, impressive tombs built from huge stones.

Megalithic Tombs

Megalithic tombs are ancient burial chambers made from very large stones. They were often used for many burials over a long time.

Portal Tombs

Portal tombs are a type of megalithic tomb with two tall stones (portals) at the entrance and a large capstone resting on top, creating a kind of doorway.

• Altcloghfin has a portal tomb.
• The 'Giant's Grave' in Carncorran Glebe is another example.
• Ballyrenan also has a portal tomb called Cloghogle.
• You can find a portal tomb in Bullock Park.
• Cloghfin has a portal tomb.
• The 'Druid's Altar' in Leitrim is a well-known portal tomb.
• Letterbrat also features a portal tomb.
• In Murnells, there's a portal tomb and a long cairn, sometimes called 'Dermot and Grania's Bed'.
• Scraghy has a portal tomb.

Wedge Tombs

Wedge tombs are another type of megalithic tomb. They are usually wider and taller at the front and get narrower and lower towards the back, like a wedge.

• Aghagogan has a wedge tomb.
• The 'Big Man's Grave' in Davagh Lower is a wedge tomb.
• Dunnamore wedge tomb is famous and known as "Dermot and Grania's Bed".
• Evish has a wedge tomb.
• Feegarran also has a wedge tomb.
• The 'Dermot and Grania's Bed' in Glasmullagh is a wedge tomb.
• Killucan has a wedge tomb called Carnanbane.
• Kilknock features a wedge tomb.
• In Lislane, there are two wedge tombs.
• Loughash has two wedge tombs, 'Cashelbane' and 'Giant's Grave'.
• Loughmacrory has a wedge tomb known as 'Dermot and Grania's Bed'.
• The 'Giant's Grave' in Loughry is a wedge tomb.
• Lurganboy also has a wedge tomb.
• Mullanmore has a wedge tomb called Labby Dermot.
• Shanmaghry and Stantavny Scotch both have wedge tombs.
• Windyhill is home to a wedge tomb.

Court Tombs

Court tombs are large, ancient tombs with an open area or 'court' at the front, leading into the burial chamber.

• Aghalane has a court tomb called Cloghogle.
• Aghnagreggan has a court tomb.
• Ally features a court tomb.
• Altdrumman has both a wedge tomb and a court tomb.
• Altmore has a court tomb.
• The 'White Rocks' in Balix Lower is a court tomb.
• Ballywholan has a court tomb called 'Carnagat'.
• Beltany has a court tomb.
• Broughderg has a court tomb called Carnanagarranbane.
• Carnanransy has a court tomb called Cloghmore.
• Carrigans has a court tomb.
• Clady Haliday has a court tomb called Carnmore.
• The 'White Stones' in Clare is a court tomb.
• Cullamore has a court tomb known as 'Giant's Grave'.
• The 'Giant's Graves' in Derrydrummond is a court tomb.
• Doocrock has a court tomb.
• Garvagh has a court tomb called County Carn.
• Glasdrummond has a court tomb.
• Gortnagarn has a court tomb.
• Granagh has a court tomb.
• Keerin has a court tomb.
• Killeter has a court tomb.
• Killymoon Demesne has a court tomb.
• Lisky has a court tomb.
• Loughmacrory has two court tombs, including one called Carnanbane.
• Streefe Glebe has a court tomb called Oweyanivore.

Passage Tombs

Passage tombs are burial chambers reached by a long, narrow passage, often covered by a mound of earth or stones.

• Glenchuil has a passage tomb, sometimes called Glenchuil Fort.
• Sess Kilgreen has several passage tombs, including one with a decorated standing stone.
• Shantavny Irish has a passage tomb.

Other Burial Sites

• Aghascrebagh has a prehistoric burial monument known as 'Pagan Graveyard'.
• Altanagh has a burial mound.
• Ballynatubbrit has a ring barrow, which is a circular ditch and bank often around a burial.
• Caldragh Children's Burial Ground is in Foremass Lower townland.
• Carryglass has a multiple cist cairn called Carnamoghil. A cist is a small stone-built coffin-like box.
• Cavanreagh has a barrow, which is a mound of earth over a burial.
• Crocknafarbrague has a cairn called Carnacalleen. A cairn is a mound of stones.
• Dun Ruadh (Doonroe) has a multiple cist cairn and a henge, which is a circular earthwork.
• Glengeen has a multiple cist cairn.
• Lisconrea has a ring barrow.
• Moymore has a barrow.
• Mulnafye has a round cairn.

Ancient Forts and Settlements

County Tyrone is dotted with many ancient forts and settlements, showing how people protected themselves and lived together.

Ringforts (Raths)

Ringforts, also known as raths, are circular enclosed settlements, usually surrounded by an earthen bank and ditch. They were common in Ireland during the Early Medieval period.

• Aghafad has a rath.
• Aughnacarney has a rath.
• Bloomhill has a rath.
• Bodoney has a rath.
• Camowen has a rath.
• Carr has a platform rath. A platform rath is a type of ringfort built on a raised platform.
• Castledamph has a rath.
• Cloghfin has a rath.
• Clogherny Glebe has three raths.
• Corboe has a rath.
• Corick has a rath.
• Corramore has a platform rath and another rath.
• Cranny has a rath.
• Creevelough has a rath.
• Deer Park (McCormick) has a platform rath.
• Dergbrough has a rath.
• Doorless has a rath.
• Drumgormal has a bivallate rath, meaning it has two defensive banks.
• Dunbunrawer has a rath.
• Dundivin Glebe has two raths.
• Dungororan has a rath.
• Durless White has a rath.
• Edenageeragh has a rath called Lismalore Fort.
• Errigal has a rath.
• Favor Royal Demesne has two bivallate raths.
• Glenkeen has a platform rath.
• Glenlark has a rath.
• Glennan has a rath.
• Gortalowry has a rath.
• Keady has a platform rath.
• Killadroy has a rath.
• Killyliss has a bivallate rath and another rath called Killyliss fort.
• Killymore has a rath called Attyhole Fort.
• Knockaginny has a rath.
• Lettergash has a rath called Lettergash Fort.
• Lisdoart has a platform rath.
• Lisgobban has a bivallate rath called Lisgobban Fort.
• Liskincon has a rath.
• Lismore has a rath.
• Lisnaragh Irish has a rath.
• Lissan has a rath called Birch Hill and a counterscarp rath. A counterscarp rath has an outer bank that is higher than the inner bank.
• Loughry has a rath.
• Martray has a rath called Martray Fort.
• Moymore has a rath.
• Mullaghmore has a rath.
• Mullaghslin Glebe has a bivallate rath.
• Mullanabreen has a rath.
• Mullans has a rath.
• Muntober has a rath called the Black Fort.
• Oughtdoorish has a rath.
• Seskinore has a platform rath and another rath.
• Sessia has a rath.
• Sessiamagaroll has a rath and a motte, which is a raised earthwork mound that often had a castle on top.
• Sixmilecross has a platform rath.
• Tattycor has a rath.
• Tievenny has two platform raths.
• Tonnagh More has a rath.
• Tullycunny has a rath.

Hillforts and Large Enclosures

Hillforts are large, fortified settlements built on hilltops, often with multiple defensive banks and ditches.

• Branny has a hilltop enclosure.
• Cabragh has a large enclosure called Cabragh Fort.
• Clogher Demesne has the Clogher Hillfort and a large hilltop enclosure.
• Dernabane has a large enclosure.
• Dunmisk has an enclosure called "Dunmisk Fort".
• Freughmore has a large hilltop enclosure.
• Leitrim has a hillfort.
• Mallabeny has a hillfort.
• Kilknock has a large hilltop enclosure called ‘Crockroe’.
• Stranagummer has a large hilltop enclosure.
• Tycanny has a large hilltop enclosure.

Crannogs

Crannogs are artificial islands built in lakes or wetlands, often used as fortified homes or settlements.

• Annagh More has a crannog.
• Clogherny has a crannog.
• Island McHugh has a crannog and fortification.
• Kilnagrew has a crannog.
• Reloagh has crannogs.
• Roughan and Tullagh Beg have a crannog.
• Stakernagh has a crannog in Lough Aughlish.
• Tullygiven has a crannog.

Castles and Fortified Sites

• Aghintain has a fortified house.
• Ballygawley Castle is a notable site.
• Castle Curlews is in Kirlish townland.
• Castlederg Castle has a bawn, which is a defensive wall around a castle.
• Derrywoone Castle is in Baronscourt townland.
• Dungannon Castle site is in Drumcoo townland.
• Dunnalong was a fortified town with Dunnalong Fort.
• Lismore has the Favor Royal Bawn.
• Mountcastle has a plantation castle.
• Newtownstewart has a castle site on Pigeon Hill.
• Roughan Castle is in Roughan townland.
• Stewart Castle in Newtownstewart includes a castle and bawn.
• Stewartstown has a castle and village site.
• Trillick Castle is in Castlemervyn Demesne townland.
• Tullyhogue Fort was an important inauguration site for ancient Irish kings.
• Tullydowey has an artillery fort called Mullan Fort.

Mysterious Stone Circles and Alignments

Stone circles and alignments are groups of standing stones arranged in patterns, often for ceremonial or astronomical purposes.

• Aghalane has a stone circle and alignments.
• Aghagogan has a standing stone.
• Aghascrebagh has an Ogham stone (a stone with ancient Irish writing) and a standing stone.
• Ballygowan has two counterscarp raths.
• Ballynamallaght has a prehistoric landscape with standing stones, cairns, and field walls.
• Ballyness has a standing stone.
• Beaghmore is a very famous complex with stone circles, alignments, and cairns. It includes Bradley's Cairn.
• Beleevna Beg has concentric stone circles (circles within circles).
• Beltrim has a stone circle and standing stones.
• Beragh has a standing stone complex.
• Berrysfort has a standing stone.
• Broughderg has several stone circles, alignments, and standing stones.
• Carrickayne has prehistoric landscapes with stone circles, alignments, cairns, and field walls.
• Cashel has a standing stone called ‘Cloghacarah’.
• Castlemervyn Demesne has a stone circle.
• Castledamph has stone circles and a stone alignment.
• Cavanreagh has standing stones.
• Clogherny has stone circles.
• Cloghfin has three standing stones, and one fallen standing stone.
• Copney has a large complex of eight stone circles and alignments.
• Cregganconroe has stone circles, alignments, and cairns.
• Crew Lower has standing stones.
• Crocknafarbrague has a standing stone that might be a megalithic tomb.
• Culvacullion has stone circles and an alignment.
• Davagh Lower has a ring cairn, stone circle, and alignments.
• Deer Park (McCormick) has a boulder with hollows called Cloghanachorite.
• Derryallen has three standing stones.
• Donaghenry has a standing stone.
• Doorat has stone circles and standing stones.
• Findermore has a cross-carved standing stone called Abbey Stone.
• Freughlough has a standing stone.
• Glasmullagh has four stone circles and a stone alignment.
• Glengeen has a stone circle.
• Glenknock has a portal tomb called ‘Cloghogle’.
• Glenmacoffer has two standing stones.
• Golan has a stone circle and a stone alignment.
• Grange has standing stones.
• Kilcroagh has a standing stone called the White Stone.
• Killeter has a double stone alignment.
• Knocknahorna has a stone circle.
• Lettery has a stone alignment and megalithic tomb.
• Lisconrea has two megalithic structures.
• Lisnagleer has a standing stone called ‘Clogh Corr’.
• Meendamph has a standing stone and a stone circle.
• Moymore has nine stone circles and alignments.
• Oughtboy has stone alignments.
• Reaghan has two stone circles, a standing stone, and a possible cairn.
• Scraghy has a stone circle or cairn kerb called Druid's Circle, and two standing stones.
• Sess Kilgreen has two standing stones.
• Tattykeel has a standing stone and a megalithic tomb.
• Tremoge has several stone circles and alignments.
• Urney Glebe has a cross-carved slab.

Other Cool Discoveries

County Tyrone also has other interesting archaeological finds that show different aspects of ancient life.

• Aghalunny has the Fairy Bridge.
• Ardboe High Cross is an important ecclesiastical (church-related) site with a famous high cross.
• Ballyclog Old Church is a church site in Glebe townland.
• Ballykeery has a killeen, which is a small, often unconsecrated, burial ground.
• Cadian has a sweat house, a type of ancient sauna.
• Caledon has a cross and a beam engine, an old type of steam engine.
• Camus has a church.
• Cappagh Church is in Dunmullan townland.
• Carnteel has a church.
• Castletown has an eel weir, a structure used to catch eels.
• Churchtown has a wedge tomb called ‘Todd’s Den’.
• Cloghog has a rectangular enclosure, possibly an artillery fort.
• Clonfeacle Cross is in Tullydowey townland.
• Coalisland Canal includes parts of an old canal basin and reaches.
• Coalisland has old colliery (coal mine) chimneys.
• Corick Abbey was a friary.
• Crannogue has a fortified mound.
• Creggandevesky has a stone structure.
• Crouck has a fulacht fiadh, an ancient cooking place.
• Dromore has a church.
• Drumragh has a church.
• Drumsonnus has a henge.
• Dunmore has a mound called a moat (Lough Fea).
• Farsnagh and Sessia has a ruined structure.
• Fintona has church ruins.
• Garvaghullion has a Bronze Age wooden trackway.
• Glencull has a cross-head.
• Glennoo has a church, graveyard, and bullaun, which is a stone with a basin-like hollow.
• Golan has a henge.
• Gortatray has a trivallate enclosure, meaning it has three defensive banks.
• Gortmerron has a fragment of a Romanesque arch, from a style of architecture.
• Holywell Church has a church, graveyard, and carved stone.
• Killoan has a decorated cross-base called the Headstone.
• Magheraglass has a church and enclosure.
• Magherakeel has a church.
• Mullanahoe has a souterrain, an underground passage or chamber.
• Mullaghwotragh has a windmill.
• Mulnagore has a hut platform.
• Strabane Canal includes parts of the old canal reaches.
• Tirkernaghan has a 17th-century house.