Island Wedge Tomb

Island Wedge Tomb
Native name
Irish: Tuama Dingeach an Oileáin
Plan of Island Wedge Tomb
Type wedge-shaped gallery grave
Location Island, Mallow,
County Cork, Ireland
Coordinates 52°04′04″N 8°34′47″W / 52.067672°N 8.579597°W / 52.067672; -8.579597Coordinates: 52°04′04″N 8°34′47″W / 52.067672°N 8.579597°W / 52.067672; -8.579597
Built c. 2500 BC
Official name: Island Wedge Tomb
Reference no. 502
Location of Island Wedge Tomb in Ireland

Island Wedge Tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located in County Cork, Ireland.[1][2][3][4][5]

Location

Island Wedge Tomb is located 9.3 km (5.8 mi) southeast of Mallow.[6][7]

History

Wedge tombs of this kind were built in Ireland in the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age, c. 2500–2000 BC.[8] Carbon-14 dating indicated activity in the time range of 1412–1308 BC and suggested that the gallery and outer wall were constructed in Early Bronze Age, with later enhancements. Evidence of cremated burial was found in several areas of the main chamber, as well as worked flint and scrapers. Also found were a spindle whorl and two glass beads. Three lots of cremated bone were found in the chamber but two were too small for meaningful interpretation. The third, in a pit towards the rear, was probably a 60-70-year-old female.[9]

The tomb was excavated and partially restored in 1957. Some cremated bones were found during the excavation, located towards the end of the gallery.[10]

Description

The gallery of this tomb is oriented SW–NE. It is divided into a portico and main chamber enclosed in a U-shaped outer wall surrounded by an oval cairn measuring 11.5 m (38 ft) long by 9.7 m (32 ft) wide. It has double walls and an entrance marked with two large orthostats.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "megalithomania: Island (Cork) :: Wedge Tomb :: Visit notes".
  2. ↑ "Island".
  3. ↑ "Island Wedge Tomb".
  4. ↑ Weir, Anthony (1 January 1980). "Early Ireland: a field guide". Blackstaff Press – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ McNally, Kenneth (1 January 2006). "Ireland's Ancient Stones: Megalithic Ireland Explored". Appletree – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ Halpin, Andrew; Newman, Conor (1 January 2006). "Ireland: An Oxford Archaeological Guide to Sites from Earliest Times to AD 1600". Oxford University Press – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ O'Kelly, Michael J.; O'Kelly, Claire (6 April 1989). "Early Ireland: An Introduction to Irish Prehistory". Cambridge University Press – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ Mathieu, James R. (1 January 2004). "Exploring the role of analytical scale in archaeological interpretation". Archaeopress – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Mike. "Island Wedge Tomb ~ mega-what.com Ancient Sacred Places".
  10. ↑ "Island Wedge Tomb".
  11. ↑ Schorr, Frank. "Island Megalithic Tomb".
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