Hill of Tara, Ireland: A site of importance spanning about 1800 years.


Hill of Tara

The Hill of Tara is a compex site with a long history. Summary information as follows:
  • Located midway between Navan and Dunshaughlin in central County Meath, about 40 minutes north of Dublin.
  • Contains a mix of graves, tombs and temples built over a long period ranging from the fourth millennium BC to the 15th century AD.
  • A historic power and religious base  centred on the Kingship of Tara.
  • Each succeeding generation and culture from the fourth millennium onwards built on the work of that which already existed.
  • The oldest monument on the site is a passage tomb of Dumha na nGiall which dates from the third millennium BC. This was excavated 1955-9 and then restored. There are some forty Bronze Age burials inserted into the soil mantle and passage.
  • Later in the third millennium a 200 m long cursus-like enclosure was built down the northern flank of the hill,
  • Next, two great henges were built just off the hill, one of which measures 270m in diameter.
  • More than 25 barrows and ring-ditches occur on Tara, mostly from the Bronze-Age.
  • A hengiform enclosure extending to 1000m in circumference encircles the crown of the hill. This dates from the Iron-Age ( 1st century BC).
  • Tech Cormaic, a bivallate ring fort is probably the latest earthwork on Tara.
The site includes a visitor centre and refreshment facilities.

Video clip of site



Hill of Tara
Hill of Tara
Hill of Tara

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap...
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Pri...
Read more