Carrowkeel Passage Tomb Complex
An Cheathrú Chaol · Bricklieve Mountains tombs
Late Neolithic·Loughcrew-Carrowkeel passage tradition (Boyne variant)·🇮🇪 County Sligo / Roscommon, Connacht, Ireland
About
About Carrowkeel Passage Tomb Complex
Upland passage tomb cemetery of 14 cairns (A–N) scattered across Bricklieve Mountains ridges above Lough Arrow, Sligo, at 250–350 m altitude. Small round cairns (10–20 m) with cruciform passages and corbelled chambers, built c.3100 BCE, offering panoramic views. Cairn G (largest 21 m) and Cairn K (with spectacular roof box and light box like Newgrange) best preserved. Excavated 1911 by Macalister revealing cremated bone, beads, antler pins. Unexplored potential for solstice light effects.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01K light box intentional solar alignment like Newgrange?
Theories
- 01Upland variant of Boyne tradition using mountain limestone
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3200–3000 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic
- Culture
- Loughcrew-Carrowkeel passage tradition (Boyne variant)
- Purpose
- Hilltop passage tomb cemetery overlooking Lough Arrow
- Abandoned
- Bronze Age
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1911 (R.A.S. Macalister & Praeger)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3200–3000 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1389 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
54.0550° N · 8.3750° W · 300 m · 2 mapped features
Cairn K (light box)
passage tombChamber with roof box / light box opening, best preserved
54.0570° N · 8.3730° WCairn G
cairnLargest 21 m cairn with cruciform chamber
54.0560° N · 8.3740° W
Gallery