Island Wedge Tomb

Less than 2km east of Burnfort lies Island Wedge Tomb. The wedge tomb was excavated in 1957 and reconstructed after the excavations. An oval cairn surrounds the U-shaped outer wall. The galley is divided into a portico and main chamber, with an orientation of south-west to north-east marking the winter and summer solstices.

Excavation found the remains of three cremated individuals in the main chamber and it was noted that this site had only one phase of occupancy, radio carbon dating indicates 1412 to 1308 BC. The gallery and outer-wall have been explained by experts as early Bronze Age additions.

The wedge tombs are the most common form of megalith tombs found in Ireland, with over 500 examples known to exist. The wedge tomb joins the court tombs, port dolmens and passage grave as typical megalithic Irish monuments. Experts agree that the wedge tomb is associated with funerary practices.

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This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014