Ireland

Loughcrew

Neolithic passage tomb complex, County Meath, Ireland

Location

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Historical Context

About

Loughcrew or Lough Crew (Irish: Loch Craobh, meaning 'lake of the tree') is an area of historical importance near Oldcastle, County Meath, Ireland. It is home to a group of ancient tombs from the 4th millennium BC, some decorated with rare megalithic art, which sit on top of a range of hills. The hills and tombs are together known as Slieve na Calliagh (Sliabh na Caillí) and are the highest point in Meath. It is one of the four main passage tomb cemeteries in Ireland and is a protected National Monument. The area is also home to the Loughcrew Estate, from which it is named.

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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Estate assigned to Napier family

c. 1655

Third fire and estate division request

1964

Cairn T equinox alignment discovered

1980

Construction of passage tombs

c. 3300 BC

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Burial and Funerary Structures

TombsCemeteries
category

Religious and Ritual Structures

ChurchesAltars
category

Artistic and Decorative Features

PetroglyphsReliefs
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Artificial Mounds
category

Astronomical and Timekeeping Structures

Stone Alignments
Knowledge Base

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Reference

Details

Country

Ireland

Coordinates

53.74° N, -7.11° E