Gortnaleck Court Tomb

Court cairn in County Sligo, Ireland
54°23′04″N 8°29′03″W / 54.384563°N 8.484219°W / 54.384563; -8.484219Elevation63 m (207 ft)Builtc. 4000–2500 BC
National monument of Ireland
Official nameGortnaleck Court TombReference no.607

Gortnaleck Court Tomb is a court cairn and National Monument located in County Sligo, Ireland.[1]

Location

Gortnaleck Court Tomb is located in a small field on a deserted farm 2.1 km (1.3 mi) north of Benbulben and 2.7 km (1.7 mi) east-southeast of Grange.[2] Benbulben dominates the view to the east while there is a wide view out across the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The monument is on private property.

History

Gortnaleck Court Tomb was constructed in the Neolithic, c. 4000–2500 BC.[3] The monument was surveyed by Sean O Nuallain for the Megalithic Survey of County Sligo which was published in 1976.

Description

Gortnaleck court tomb looking north to Benwisken.
Gortnaleck court tomb looking north to Benwisken.

The monument consists of a central court which is 6 m (20 ft) in diameter. An entrance passage to the south leads into the court. A pair of galleries open to the east and west. The west gallery is 7 m (23 ft) long and the east is 5 m (16 ft) by 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) long.[4] The majority of the cairn stones are missing, haven been used to construct the massive drystone field walls around the monument.

References

  1. ^ "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, linguistics and literature". Hodges, Figgis. 1956 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland". The Society. 1975 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Byrne, Martin. "The Sacred Island – Benbulben – Dartry Mountain – Benwisken – Tievebawn – Kingsmountain – Truskmore".
  4. ^ "Gortnaleck Court Tomb". Megalithic Monuments of Ireland. July 2010.