Ballykeel Dolmen and Cairn, Neolithic burial monument near Mullaghbawn, Northern Ireland
Ballykeel Dolmen and Cairn is a Neolithic burial monument located near Mullaghbawn in County Armagh. It comprises three upright stones supporting a large flat stone on top, surrounded by a mound of piled rocks.
This burial chamber was constructed between 4000 and 2500 BC as a communal grave. Excavations conducted in 1963 uncovered pottery vessels and stone tools left by those who used the site.
The monument reveals how these ancient communities honored their dead and the importance they placed on burial rituals. The careful arrangement of stones shows that funeral practices were central to their beliefs.
The site sits on Ballykeel Road in County Armagh and welcomes visitors year-round at no cost. The dolmen is easy to reach and is surrounded by other historic locations worth exploring in the Ring of Gullion area.
The capstone features a distinctive notch that mirrors one found at nearby Legananny Dolmen, suggesting this may have been a deliberate mark made by ancient builders. A second burial chamber lined with stone sits in the northern section of the mound.
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