Banagher megalithic systems
The megalithic complexes of Banagher are located on Slieve Glah, north of the townland of Banagher ( Irish Beannchar ), about 7.0 km southeast of Cavan in County Cavan in Ireland .
The complex includes a Court Tomb , a Henge , a Portal Tomb , a Stone Circle, and a Passage Tomb , which is surrounded by a stone circle with a stone carved into it.
The Tomb portal
Megalithic systems on the British Isles are called Portal Tombs , in which two equally high, upright stones with a door stone in between form the front of a chamber, which is covered with a sometimes huge capstone. Banager's Tomb (also called Giant's Grave) portal is one of the smallest of its type. The chamber measures only about 1.0 × 1.0 m and the only preserved portal stone is only 1.0 m high. The capstone is on the side and a pile of reading stones is on the back. Banagher is next to Carrickacroy also in County Cavan and Binn in County Donegal, the smallest Portal Tomb on the island.
The court tomb
The Court Tomb was recently destroyed when the farmer wanted to organize a hedge. A few of the stones can still be seen in the hedge. Noteworthy is a pointed stone, which was probably the end stone of the gallery.
The passage tomb
The ruined Passage Tomb is surrounded by a stone circle about 40.0 m in diameter. The only surviving structure of the Passage Tomb is part of a chamber, of which two wall stones and the end stone have been preserved. It appears that the complex faced north towards the Slieve Glah.
Many of the stones in the stone circle have fallen over or are missing, but enough remains to indicate that it was a circle about 40.0 m in diameter. One stone may have been carved into a rock.
A few meters north of the stone circle is a small henge , whose moat is clearly visible and whose walls are up to 1.5 meters high.
See also
literature
- Eamon Cody: A Complex of Prehistoric Monuments at Banagher, County Cavan In: The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland Volume 132-2002, pp. 77-98
Web links
Coordinates: 53 ° 56 ′ 40 " N , 7 ° 16 ′ 57.5" W.