Ballinran Court Tomb
Encyclopedia
Ballinran Court Tomb is situated close to Killowen
, County Down
, Northern Ireland
, on the shore of Carlingford Lough
.
Excavations took place in 1976 in advance of a road widening scheme on the site which is some 60m from the lough shore. The excavations revealed a court tomb with a very long gallery (over 12m long) aligned north-south, opening onto an approximately circular forecourt at its north end. No traces survived of the cairn or any kerb or revetment. One of the two portal-stone sockets still contained the fractured stump of the stone which had stood in it. The gallery had been segmented with sills and jambs and was at least 5 or 6 segments long.
No trace of burial deposits was found in situ, although some cremated, presumably human, bone and three primary flint
flakes were found. A 'nest' of winkle
shells were found placed in a pit as a secondary deposit in the grave.
Killowen
Killowen is a small village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is near Rostrevor and on the shore of Carlingford Lough. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 159 people. It lies within the Newry and Mourne District Council area.-History:...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, on the shore of Carlingford Lough
Carlingford Lough
Carlingford Lough is a glacial fjord or sea inlet that forms part of the border between Northern Ireland to the north and the Republic of Ireland to the south. On its northern shore is County Down and on its southern shore is County Louth...
.
Excavations took place in 1976 in advance of a road widening scheme on the site which is some 60m from the lough shore. The excavations revealed a court tomb with a very long gallery (over 12m long) aligned north-south, opening onto an approximately circular forecourt at its north end. No traces survived of the cairn or any kerb or revetment. One of the two portal-stone sockets still contained the fractured stump of the stone which had stood in it. The gallery had been segmented with sills and jambs and was at least 5 or 6 segments long.
No trace of burial deposits was found in situ, although some cremated, presumably human, bone and three primary flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
flakes were found. A 'nest' of winkle
Common Periwinkle
The common periwinkle or winkle, scientific name Littorina littorea, is a species of small edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk which has gills and an operculum, and is classified within the family Littorinidae, the periwinkles....
shells were found placed in a pit as a secondary deposit in the grave.