52°12′20″N 7°12′40″W / 52.2056°N 7.2112°W
Tuama Tairseach Ghaulstown | |
Location | Gaulstown, Butlerstown, County Waterford |
---|---|
Region | Munster |
Coordinates | 52°12′20″N 7°12′40″W / 52.2056°N 7.2112°W |
Type | Portal tomb |
History | |
Builder | Unknown |
Periods | Neolithic |
Cultures | Celtic/Viking |
Site notes | |
Public access | Yes |
Official name | Gaulstown |
Reference no. | 398 [1] |
The Gaulstown Portal Tomb or Gaulstown Dolmen is a megalithic portal tomb situated in Gaulstown, Butlerstown in County Waterford in the Republic of Ireland. It lies about 7 km south west of Waterford City. [2]
The tomb is named for the townsland in which it situated, Gaulstown, and sits at the foot of "Cnoc an Chaillighe" or "The Hill of the Hag". [3]
The portal tomb most likely dates from around 3500 BC, and is considered one of the finest examples of portal tombs in the region, [2] and was first recorded by George Victor Du Noyer in 1864. [4] The tomb faces south east into the hillside, and consists of two east-facing portal stones which are 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) high, with a door stone between and a chamber consisting of three other upright stones. All of these support a rectangular capstone, which is 4.2 metres (14 ft) in length, and 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) deep. The tomb has been undergone maintenance in the past, with a concrete support added inside the chamber. There is evidence that some of the upright stones may have moved over time, as the shape of the chamber has been impacted. [3] It is likely that the structure was once enclosed by a mound or cairn, which has since been removed or eroded away. [5]
52°12′20″N 7°12′40″W / 52.2056°N 7.2112°W
Tuama Tairseach Ghaulstown | |
Location | Gaulstown, Butlerstown, County Waterford |
---|---|
Region | Munster |
Coordinates | 52°12′20″N 7°12′40″W / 52.2056°N 7.2112°W |
Type | Portal tomb |
History | |
Builder | Unknown |
Periods | Neolithic |
Cultures | Celtic/Viking |
Site notes | |
Public access | Yes |
Official name | Gaulstown |
Reference no. | 398 [1] |
The Gaulstown Portal Tomb or Gaulstown Dolmen is a megalithic portal tomb situated in Gaulstown, Butlerstown in County Waterford in the Republic of Ireland. It lies about 7 km south west of Waterford City. [2]
The tomb is named for the townsland in which it situated, Gaulstown, and sits at the foot of "Cnoc an Chaillighe" or "The Hill of the Hag". [3]
The portal tomb most likely dates from around 3500 BC, and is considered one of the finest examples of portal tombs in the region, [2] and was first recorded by George Victor Du Noyer in 1864. [4] The tomb faces south east into the hillside, and consists of two east-facing portal stones which are 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) high, with a door stone between and a chamber consisting of three other upright stones. All of these support a rectangular capstone, which is 4.2 metres (14 ft) in length, and 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) deep. The tomb has been undergone maintenance in the past, with a concrete support added inside the chamber. There is evidence that some of the upright stones may have moved over time, as the shape of the chamber has been impacted. [3] It is likely that the structure was once enclosed by a mound or cairn, which has since been removed or eroded away. [5]