Carrowkeel

Carrowkeel

Location: Carrowkeel, Co. Sligo

Classification: Ancient Complex

Rating:

Carrowkeel is a beautifully situated neolithic hilltop passage tomb complex consisting of 14 passage cairns identified with letters. The passage cairns are spread across a number of hills that form part of the Bricklieve Mountain range (the Irish name Breac sliabh means speckled mountain). Carrowkeel is one of a series of limestone plateaus aligned towards Knocknarea. The plateau to the east is Doonaveeragh and to the west there are the Carn Mor and Treanscrabbagh plateaus. The tombs seem to be oriented towards the area of Cuil Irra, Knocknarea and Carrowmore, though some have a solar alignment southwest. There are fourteen passage tombs in Carrowkeel and some of them can be entered by crawling through a narrow passage.

Description

Carrowkeel is a beautifully situated neolithic hilltop passage tomb complex consisting of 14 passage cairns identified with letters. The passage cairns are spread across a number of hills that form part of the Bricklieve Mountain range (the Irish name Breac sliabh means speckled mountain). Carrowkeel is one of a series of limestone plateaus aligned towards Knocknarea. The plateau to the east is Doonaveeragh and to the west there are the Carn Mor and Treanscrabbagh plateaus. The tombs seem to be oriented towards the area of Cuil Irra, Knocknarea and Carrowmore, though some have a solar alignment southwest. There are fourteen passage tombs in Carrowkeel and some of them can be entered by crawling through a narrow passage.

History

Circumstantial Carbon dating, places the tombs at between 5400 and 5100 years old (3400 to 3100 BC), so that they predate the Pyramids on Egypt's Giza plateau by 500 - 800 years. Carrowkeel is one of the "big four" passage tomb cemeteries in Ireland (the other three are Brú na Bóinne, Lough Crew, and Carrowmore). A particular type of crude pottery found in passage tombs has been titled Carrowkeel Ware, having first been recorded in the Carrowkeel Monuments.
View all Monuments within this Complex
View all Monuments within this Complex

Gallery

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Accessibility Rating: Moderate

There is a small car park in the valley below Carrowkeel. Although Carrowkeel is the highest point of the Bricklieve Mountain range, it is also the easiest hill to access. It is a long walk from the carpark to the monuments on a mountain track. Most visitors to the complex will visit the four main cairns on this plateau. These are Cairns G, H, K and L.

Accessibility

Accessibility Class: Moderate

There is a small car park in the valley below Carrowkeel. Although Carrowkeel is the highest point of the Bricklieve Mountain range, it is also the easiest hill to access. It is a long walk from the carpark to the monuments on a mountain track. Most visitors to the complex will visit the four main cairns on this plateau. These are Cairns G, H, K and L.

Facilities

Limited Parking

Map

Directions

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Sunrise/Sunset

Sunrise: 06:58

Sunset: 20:01

Directions

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Weather

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Sunrise/Sunset

Sunrise: 06:58

Sunset: 20:01

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