Ballymascanlon Prehistoric Site, Ireland

 


Proleek Portal Tomb

This evening I am reporting on two prehistoric sites which are located in close proximity close to a golf course at Ballymascanlon House Hotel near Carlingford on Ireland’s east coast. This site is 110km north of Dublin.

The magnificent Proleek Portal Tomb (immediately above and below) dates from the Neolithic period, about 3500 BC. This period was the New Stone Age when settlers from Scotland introduced a settled lifestyle based on agriculture.

Proleek is characteristic of portal tombs elsewhere with two tall stones at the front (portal stones) and a smaller stone at the back supporting a large capstone. This structure is sometimes called a dolmen meaning stone table. The example shown is some three metres high.

Proleek Portal Tomb

Close to Proleek is a Bronze Age (2000 BC) Wedge Tomb, shown below.This proves the site had special relevance in prehistoric times, perhaps over a period of 2000 years.

Wedge Tomb

Wedge Tomb

For more information on touring Ireland refer this web page.

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