Gaulstown Portal Tomb
Tuama Tairseach Ghaulstown | |
 | |
  Shown within Ireland | |
| Location | Gaulstown, Butlerstown, County Waterford |
|---|---|
| Region | Munster |
| Coordinates | 52°12′20″N 7°12′40″W / 52.2056°N 7.2112°W |
| Type | Portal tomb |
| History | |
| Builder | Unknown |
| Periods | Neolithic |
| Cultures | Celtic/Viking |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | Yes |
| Official name | Gaulstown |
| Reference no. | 398 |
The Gaulstown Portal Tomb or Gaulstown Dolmen is a megalithic portal tomb situated in Gaulstown, Butlerstown in County Waterford in the Republic of Ireland. It lies about 7 km south west of Waterford City.
Location
The tomb is named for the townsland in which it situated, Gaulstown, and sits at the foot of "Cnoc an Chaillighe" or "The Hill of the Hag".
Features
The portal tomb most likely dates from around 3500 BC, and is considered one of the finest examples of portal tombs in the region, and was first recorded by George Victor Du Noyer in 1864. The tomb faces south east into the hillside, and consists of two east-facing portal stones which are 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) high, with a door stone between and a chamber consisting of three other upright stones. All of these support a rectangular capstone, which is 4.2 metres (14 ft) in length, and 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) deep. The tomb has been undergone maintenance in the past, with a concrete support added inside the chamber. There is evidence that some of the upright stones may have moved over time, as the shape of the chamber has been impacted. It is likely that the structure was once enclosed by a mound or cairn, which has since been removed or eroded away.
See also
References
- ^ "National Monuments in County Waterford" (PDF). National Monuments Service. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ Jackman, Neil (9 August 2014). "Heritage Ireland: The lonely Kilkenny cave that witnessed a massacre of 1,000 people". The Journal. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ "Gaulstown Portal Tomb". Prehistoric Waterford. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ "Ancient Ireland - Exploring Irish Historic Monuments". Old Moore's Almanac. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ "Gaulstown Portal Tomb". Megalithic Monuments of Ireland. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
External links
