Moytirra East Court Tomb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moytirra East Court Tomb |
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| Native name Irish: Tuama Cúirte Mhaigh Tuireadh Thoir |
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| Giant's Grave | |
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| Type | court cairn |
| Location | Moytirra East, Kilmactranny, County Sligo, Ireland |
| Elevation | 147 m (482 ft) |
| Built | c. 4000–2500 BC |
| Official name: Moytirra East | |
| Reference no. | 465 |
Have you ever heard of a giant's grave? The Moytirra East Court Tomb, also known as the Giant's Grave, is a very old stone monument in County Sligo, Ireland. It's a special type of ancient burial place called a court cairn. Today, it is protected as a National Monument because of its historical importance.
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Where is the Giant's Grave?
You can find the Moytirra East Court Tomb in County Sligo, Ireland. It's about 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of a village called Ballyfarnon. The tomb sits to the east of a beautiful lake known as Lough Arrow.
A Look Back in Time: History of the Tomb
When Was It Built?
The Moytirra East Court Tomb was built a very long time ago. People constructed it between 4000 and 2500 BC. This time period is known as the Neolithic era, or the New Stone Age. It was a time when people first started farming and building large stone monuments.
The Legend of the Giant
For many years, local people called this place the Giant's Grave. They believed it held the body of a giant. This giant was said to have been killed during a famous ancient battle. This battle was known as the Battle of Moytura.
What Does the Tomb Look Like?
The Moytirra East Court Tomb is a type of ancient burial site. It was designed to hold the remains of people from the Neolithic period.
The Court and Gallery
The tomb has the remains of a U-shaped area. This area is called a "court." It would have been an open space where rituals or ceremonies took place. From this court, you would enter a "gallery." This gallery is a long passage with four separate chambers. These chambers were likely used for burials.
Missing Stones
Originally, a large pile of stones called a cairn would have covered the entire tomb. This cairn would have protected the court and gallery. However, over thousands of years, many of these stones have been removed. This is why you can now see the stone structure underneath.
