Moylisha Wedge Tomb

Moylisha Wedge Tomb, also called Labbanasighe, is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located in County Wicklow, Ireland.[1]

Moylisha Wedge Tomb
Native name
Irish: Leaba na Saidhe
Labbanasighe
Typewedge-shaped gallery grave
LocationMoylisha, Shillelagh,
County Wicklow, Ireland
Coordinates52.7514°N 6.622294°W / 52.7514; -6.622294
AreaSlaney Valley
Elevation247 m (810 ft)
Height1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Builtc. 2300–1000 BC
National Monument of Ireland
Official name: Moylisha Wedge Tomb
Reference no.368
Location of Moylisha Wedge Tomb in Ireland

Location

Moylisha Wedge Tomb is located on the north face of Moylisha Hill, 6.1 km (3.8 mi) west of Shillelagh.[2]

History

Moylisha Wedge Tomb was constructed c. 2300–1000 BC, i.e. the Copper Age or Bronze Age. The old name "Labbanasighe" is from Irish leaba na saidhe, meaning "Bed of the Bitch" (i.e. female dog). The name might also mean "Labbanasaighde" which translates as "Bed of the Arrow / Shaft" which may be evidenced through finds from archaeological digs. Local folklore in Parkbridge explains the origins of the name differently - in the local area the phonetics are pronounced like "Lob-na-Sy (Síthe)" which is said to mean "Bed of the Fairies". The site was excavated in 1937 by Gearóid Ó h-Iceadha and potsherds, some cremated bone and two stone disks were found. Also found were two valves of a sandstone mould for lozenge-bladed socket-looped spearheads.[3][4]

Description

Moylisha Wedge Tomb consists of a rectangular cairn 13 m × 10 m incorporating a gallery 7.5 m in length aligned NW–SE. The gallery consists of a small antechamber separated by a low sill from the main chamber 6 m in length which widens toward the southeast. A single displaced roofstone lies in the gallery.[5][6]

References
  1. "Disturbing the Bed of the Bitch". 1 May 2014.
  2. "Moylisha : Wedge Tomb". megalithomania.com.
  3. Flanagan, Laurence (29 October 1998). "Ancient Ireland: Life Before the Celts". Gill & Macmillan Ltd – via Google Books.
  4. "Wedge Tombs - West Wicklow Bookshelf".
  5. Pip. "MOYLISHA WEDGE TOMB/MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF IRELAND.COM".
  6. "Wicklow Pre-history" (PDF).
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