Ballykeel Dolmen

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Ballykeel Dolmen

Ballykeel Dolmen is a Neolithic tripod portal tomb at the foot of the western flank of Slieve Gullion, above a tributary of the Forkhill river, in the south of County Armagh

The tomb is a State Care Historic Monument.[1]

Position and archaeology

The dolmen stands at the southern end of a large cairn, of approximately 100 feet by 35 feet, the north end of which also contains a cist. Its ten-foot long capstone, with a notable notch similar to that of Legananny Dolmen, had previously fallen, but was re-set during excavations in 1963.[2]

Excavations of the chamber revealed different types of pottery, including three highly decorated "Ballyalton" bowls, and the cist contained several hundred sherds of Neolithic pottery, a javelin head, and three flint flakes.[3]

References

  1. List of State Care Monuments (Historic Environment Division)
  2. "Ballykeel Dolmen". Megalithic Ireland. http://www.megalithicireland.com/Ballykeel.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-07. 
  3. "Ballykeel Dolmen". NISMR. http://apps.ehsni.gov.uk/ambit/Details.aspx?MonID=6033. Retrieved 2011-11-07.