Poulawack Cairn, Prehistoric burial cairn in The Burren, County Clare, Ireland.
Poulawack Cairn is a circular limestone mound in the Burren landscape measuring 21 meters across and rising 2.5 meters high on a hilltop. Inside, ten separate burial chambers were found during excavations, which once held the remains of sixteen individuals.
The cairn was first built in the Stone Age around 3500 BC and then reused and enlarged repeatedly over 1,800 years. Archaeologists discovered in 1934 that it was developed through three distinct building phases extending into the Bronze Age.
The cairn served as a burial place for high-ranking members of ancient society. The way it was built and reused over centuries shows that certain families or groups held special importance in their community.
The site stands on private land and is not set up for public access, so visiting requires permission from the owner. The surrounding landscape with limestone rocks and ancient field walls makes navigation challenging, so wear sturdy footwear and plan time to explore carefully.
The structure was used and rebuilt repeatedly over an unusually long period of 1,800 years, showing it remained significant to multiple generations. This sets it apart from many other burial sites of the era that were used only briefly.
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