Carricknagat | |
---|---|
Native name Tuamaí Meigiliteach Charraig na gCat (Irish) | |
Dermot & Grania's Bed and Giant's Grave | |
Type | wedge-shaped gallery grave and dolmen |
Location | Carricknagat, Ballygawley, County Sligo, Ireland |
Coordinates | 54°20′05″N 8°00′16″W / 54.334821°N 8.004539°W |
Elevation | 63 m (207 ft) |
Built | c. 4000–2500 BC |
Official name | Carricknagat |
Reference no. | 277.01 |
Carricknagat Megalithic Tombs are megalithic tombs and a National Monument located in County Sligo, Ireland.[1]
Carricknagat is located halfway between Ballygawley and Ballintogher, near a source of the Ballisodare River.[2]
Carricknagat tombs were built c. 4000–2500 BC, in the Neolithic.
The name means "the cats' stone" or "the pine martens' stone;" ancient monuments are often said to be haunted by wild animals, possibly representing the spirits of the dead.[3]
The tomb to the west, a wedge-shaped gallery grave (wedge tomb) called the Giant's Grave, is trapezoidal in plan with the inner end of a SSE-facing gallery (4 × 2.6 m) and is divided by jambs inset in the gallery walls, with a rear chamber 2 m (7 ft) long. The outer chamber is composed of side-stones, an upright stone and four three kerb-stones.[4]
This tomb, a dolmen, is traditionally called Dermot & Grania's Bed.[5]