Audleystown Court Tomb
Audleystown Court Cairn · Audleystown Dual Court Tomb
Early Neolithic·Irish Court Tomb·🇬🇧 County Down, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
About
About Audleystown Court Tomb
Dual court tomb on the west bank of Strangford Lough's narrow outlet near Castle Ward, 1.75 miles from Strangford village at grid J562504, built c.3900–3500 BCE. The long cairn houses two opposed court-galleries (north and south) sharing a common cairn mass, containing eight chambers total and 34 individuals. Excavated 1952–57 by A. E. P. Collins, it sits above the tidal narrows where Vikings named Strangr-fjǫrðr.
Why it mattersDual court tomb on the west bank of Strangford Lough's narrow outlet near Castle Ward, 1.75 miles from Strangford village at grid J562504, built c.3900–3500 BCE. The long cairn houses two opposed court-galleries (north a
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Dual court symmetry and communal use
Theories
- 01Tidal narrows territorial control
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. 3900–3500 BCE
- Period
- Early Neolithic
- Culture
- Irish Court Tomb
- Purpose
- Dual court tomb with opposed galleries
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3900–3500 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1119 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
54.3748° N · 5.5995° W · 15 m · 2 mapped features
North court and gallery
chamberNorthern court with four chambers, cremated and inhumed burials
54.3749° N · 5.5994° WSouth court and gallery
chamberSouthern court-gallery with four chambers, opposed to north
54.3747° N · 5.5995° W