Annaghmare Court Tomb
Annaghmare Court Cairn · Crossmaglen Court Tomb
Middle Neolithic·Irish Court Tomb tradition·🇬🇧 County Armagh, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
About
About Annaghmare Court Tomb
Heel-shaped court tomb at Annaghmare townland near Crossmaglen, County Armagh, built c.3500–3000 BCE. Cremation Gallery 13 m long with two chambers opens from a shallow court to the northeast; gallery walls use large upright and sideways slabs up to 3.35 m high. Excavated 1960s, it yielded Neolithic pottery and cremated bone, and sits at the foot of the Ring of Gullion volcanic hills.
Why it mattersHeel-shaped court tomb at Annaghmare townland near Crossmaglen, County Armagh, built c.3500–3000 BCE. Cremation Gallery 13 m long with two chambers opens from a shallow court to the northeast; gallery walls use large upr
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Shallow versus deep court variant
Theories
- 01Court as ritual forecourt
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3500–3000 BCE
- Period
- Middle Neolithic
- Culture
- Irish Court Tomb tradition
- Purpose
- Court tomb with gallery
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3500–3000 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1392 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
54.1095° N · 6.6158° W · 80 m · 2 mapped features
Gallery chambers
chamberTwo-chambered gallery 13 m long, widest at court entrance 6.4 m
54.1095° N · 6.6158° WShallow court
forecourtOpen shallow court 4 m deep to northeast, ritual forecourt
54.1095° N · 6.6158° W
Gallery