Ballykeel Dolmen

Neolithic tripod portal tomb, Northern Ireland

54°08′12″N 6°28′16″W / 54.136696°N 6.471204°W / 54.136696; -6.471204

Ballykeel Dolmen is a neolithic tripod portal tomb and a State Care Historic Monument at the foot of the western flank of Slieve Gullion, above a tributary of the Forkhill river, in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area, at grid ref: H9950 2132.^[1]

The dolmen sits at the southern end of a large cairn, of approximately 30x10 metres, the north end of which also contains a cist. Its three metre long capstone, with a notable notch similar to that of Legananny Dolmen, had previously fallen, but was re-set during excavations in 1963.^[2]

Excavations of the chamber revealed different types of pottery, including three highly decorated "Ballyalton" bowls, and the cist contained several hundred sherds of Neolithic pottery, a javelin head, and three flint flakes.^[3]

References

^ "Ballykeel Dolmen" (PDF). Environment and Heritage Service NI - State Care Historic Monuments. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
^ "Ballykeel Dolmen". Megalithic Ireland. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
^ "Ballykeel Dolmen". NISMR. Retrieved 7 November 2011.^{[permanent dead link]}