Townleyhall passage grave

Townleyhall passage grave is a chamber tomb located around 2 km north of Dowth tomb. It is part of the megalithic complex of Brú na Bóinne in County Louth, Ireland.

Townleyhall Tomb
Tuama Pasáiste Halla an Toinlígh
Townleyhall Tomb from the air
Townleyhall passage grave is located in Ireland
Townleyhall passage grave
Shown within Ireland
Locationvalley of the River Boyne
RegionCounty Louth, Ireland
Coordinates53°43′16″N 6°27′05″W / 53.721150°N 6.451253°W / 53.721150; -6.451253
Typechamber tomb
Part ofBrú na Bóinne
History
PeriodsNeolithic
TypeCultural
Criteriai, iii, iv
Designated1993 (17th session)
Part ofBrú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne
Reference no.659
Ireland
RegionEurope and North America

It is located outside the World Heritage Site core area but (just) inside the buffer zone.

Side view

Construction edit

The site was originally a Neolithic settlement but was abandoned by its occupants, perhaps because it was a temporary site serving the construction project or due to the death of a senior member, and turned into a passage grave. Unlike its more famous neighbours in the Boyne valley, the tomb consists of a single chamber that merges with the entrance passage making it an undifferentiated passage grave.

Excavation edit

Townleyhall was excavated by George Eogan in 1962, work which found Carrowkeel ware pottery providing the first indication that Ireland's passage graves were of Neolithic date. Following this many of the other sites in the area were dug, although the methods used at the time would be considered crude by today's standards.

References edit

External links edit

  Media related to Townleyhall passage grave at Wikimedia Commons