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Gortnaleck Court Tomb

Coordinates: 54°23′04″N 8°29′03″W / 54.384563°N 8.484219°W / 54.384563; -8.484219
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Gortnaleck Court Tomb
Native name
Tuama Cúirte Ghort na Leice (Irish)
Gortnaleck Court Tomb is located in Ireland
Gortnaleck Court Tomb
Location of Gortnaleck Court Tomb in Ireland
Typecourt cairn
LocationGortnaleck, Grange,
County Sligo, Ireland
Coordinates54°23′04″N 8°29′03″W / 54.384563°N 8.484219°W / 54.384563; -8.484219
Elevation63 m (207 ft)
Builtc. 4000–2500 BC
Official nameGortnaleck Court Tomb
Reference no.607

Gortnaleck Court Tomb is a court cairn and National Monument located in County Sligo, Ireland.[1]

Location

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Gortnaleck Court Tomb is located in a small field on a deserted farm 2.1 km (1.3 mi) north of Benbulben and 2.7 km (1.7 mi) east-southeast of Grange.[2] Benbulben dominates the view to the east while there is a wide view out across the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The monument is on private property.

History

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Gortnaleck Court Tomb was constructed in the Neolithic, c. 4000–2500 BC.[3] The monument was surveyed by Sean O Nuallain for the Megalithic Survey of County Sligo which was published in 1976.

Description

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Gortnaleck court tomb looking north to Benwisken.
Gortnaleck court tomb looking north to Benwisken.

The monument consists of a central court which is 6 m (20 ft) in diameter. An entrance passage to the south leads into the court. A pair of galleries open to the east and west. The west gallery is 7 m (23 ft) long and the east is 5 m (16 ft) by 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) long.[4] The majority of the cairn stones are missing, haven been used to construct the massive drystone field walls around the monument.

References

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  1. ^ "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, linguistics and literature". Hodges, Figgis. 1956 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland". The Society. 1975 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Byrne, Martin. "The Sacred Island – Benbulben – Dartry Mountain – Benwisken – Tievebawn – Kingsmountain – Truskmore".
  4. ^ "Gortnaleck Court Tomb". Megalithic Monuments of Ireland. July 2010.