Ireland

Knocknarea

Neolithic cairn and tombs, County Sligo

Location

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Historical Context

About

Knocknarea (; Irish: Cnoc na Riabh) is a large prominent hill west of Sligo town in County Sligo, Ireland, with a height of 327 metres (1,073 ft). Knocknarea is visually striking as it has steep limestone cliffs and stands on the Cúil Irra peninsula overlooking the Atlantic coast. At the summit is one of Ireland's largest cairns, known as Queen Maeve's Cairn, which is believed to contain a Neolithic passage tomb. In recent years there has been concern that the ancient cairn, a protected National Monument, is being damaged by climbers. There are also remains of several smaller tombs on the summit. Knocknarea overlooks the Carrowmore tombs and is thought to have been part of an ancient ritual landscape.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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Cairn construction

c. 3000 BCE

Antiquarian excavations

19th century

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Burial and Funerary Structures

CairnsPassage TombsBurial MoundsCruciform Passage GraveTombs
category

Religious and Ritual Structures

Ceremonial Platforms
category

Domestic and Habitation Structures

Houses
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Artificial MoundsLandscaped Earthworks
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Reference

Details

Country

Ireland

Coordinates

54.26° N, -8.57° E