Ballymacaldrack, Country Antrim
Ballymacaldrack, popularly known as Dooey's Cairn, is an accessible, well-preserved and in some important respects unusual example of a single court tomb. It stands in a fenced enclosure 3/4 mile south-south- east of Dunloy village and is approached from a lane on the east side of Bellaghy road. Excavated by Estyn Evans in 1935 and by A. E. P. Collins in 1975, it figures frequently in the archaeological literature.
The megalith is contained in an ovoid-shaped cairn bounded by a substantial boulder kerb of which twenty-nine stones survive. Several of the orthostats forming the deep U-shaped forecourt are impressive specimens; one flanking the chamber entrance stands over 6 feet tall. No evidence of burials was found in the small rectangular chamber which however yielded an array of ritual items. Its entrance had been closed with a panel of drywalling between the jambs and in it were two polished stone axes, so-called 'magic guardians' of the tomb. Piled against this walling and extending across much of the court was a large amount of cairn material. Behind the chamber a long paved 'cremation passage' was uncovered (now completely grassed-over), where bodies were burned prior to depositing the bones in a series of pits dug in the floor. Dating evidence showed that this activity took place around 3500-3000 BC. The construction of the monument involved a number of separate phases and its use extended over several centuries, culminating in the symbolic sealing of the chamber and blocking of the court.
Click here to buy the Appletree Press book from Amazon.co.uk. For more information click on: Ireland's Ancient Stones - A Megalithic Heritage by Kenneth McNally, published by Appletree Press.
Other Ancient Stones in County Antrim: Ballylumford | Broadstone | Craigarogan | Craigs | Doagh | Ticloy
Click here to buy the Appletree Press book from Amazon.co.uk. For more information click on: Ireland's Ancient Stones - A Megalithic Heritage by Kenneth McNally, published by Appletree Press.
All Material © 1999-2008 irelandseye.com and contributors Privacy statement
