Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb

Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb
Native name
Tuama Dinge Pháirc Ráth Bhrannaibh (Irish)
view of the tomb, standing in a field
Typewedge-shaped gallery grave
LocationRathfranpark, Killala,
County Mayo, Ireland
Coordinates54°14′31″N 9°15′09″W / 54.242008°N 9.252568°W / 54.242008; -9.252568
Elevation26 m (85 ft)
Builtc. 2500–2000 BC
Official nameRathfranpark Wedge Tomb
Reference no.633
Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb is located in Ireland
Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb
Location of Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb in Ireland

Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.[1][2]

Location

Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb is located 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Killala village, overlooking the Palmerstown River and Killala Bay.

History

This wedge tomb was built c. 2500–2000 BC, in the Copper or Bronze Age.[3][4]

A stone circle once stood close to the tomb until the 1950s, when the stones were uprooted and dumped onto the wedge tomb.[5]

Description

The tomb has a gallery over 3 m (9.8 ft) long and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) wide, with side walls composed of boulders up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) high. The gallery axis is ENE-WSW, so the ENE end points towards the rising sun at the summer solstice.[6][7][8]

References

  1. ^ Weir, Anthony. "Rathfranpark".
  2. ^ Borllase, William Copeland (1897). The Dolmens of Ireland: Volume I. London: Chapman & Hall. pp. 114–115.
  3. ^ "Cabragh".
  4. ^ "Cabragh Wedge Tomb, Sligo - TripAdvisor".
  5. ^ "Saints and Stones: Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb".
  6. ^ Map, The Megalithic Portal and Megalith. "Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb".
  7. ^ "Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb".
  8. ^ "megalithomania: Rathfranpark (Mayo) :: Wedge Tomb :: Visit notes".