Shrough Passage Tomb facts for kids

Shrough Passage Tomb is an ancient burial place called a passage grave. It is also a special protected site known as a National Monument in Ireland. This old tomb sits high up on a hill called Slievenamuck in County Tipperary, Ireland.

Where is Shrough Passage Tomb Located?

Shrough Passage Tomb is found on top of Slievenamuck mountain. It is close to where the River Ara begins its journey. The tomb is located about halfway between Tipperary Town and Galbally, County Limerick. This area is quite far from where most other passage graves were built in ancient times.

When Was Shrough Passage Tomb Built?

The Shrough passage tomb was built a very long time ago, around 3000 BC. This means it is over 5,000 years old! People from the Stone Age created this impressive structure.

What Does Shrough Passage Tomb Look Like?

The entrance to Shrough Passage Tomb is made from large standing stones called orthostats. There are two of these stones on each side, forming an opening about 3 meters (10 feet) long and 1.5 meters (5 feet) wide.

The main chamber inside the tomb is about 1.5 meters (5 feet) by 1.2 meters (4 feet). It no longer has a roof. This chamber is located near the middle of a low, round mound of earth. This mound is about 30 meters (98 feet) across.

Many ancient stone monuments were built to line up with mountains or events in the sky. The entrance of Shrough Passage Tomb points generally towards Slievenamon mountain. It also faces the area where the sun rises during the equinox. An equinox is when the day and night are almost equal in length, happening twice a year.