Meehambee Dolmen

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Irish English Template:Infobox ancient site

The Meehambee Dolmen is a megalithic portal tomb, dating from around 3500 BC, in County Roscommon, Ireland.

Two local schoolchildren unearthed two stone axes in the 1960s.[1]

Initially supported on six upright portals, 2.3 metres high, the capstone is estimated to weigh twenty-four tonnes. The portal stone supporting the back of the capstone has collapsed, allowing the capstone to slide backward out of position and causing the doorstone to collapse. As a result, the capstone now rests at a 45-degree angle.[1]

It is thought that these tombs, of which over 1,200 have been identified in Ireland, were either the burial place of a single important king or chieftain or perhaps the tombs of several tribe members who inhabited the area in the Neolithic era.

It was known locally as Script error: No such module "Lang". in the 1930s.[2]

Location

The tomb is located in Mihanboy, County Roscommon, a few hundred metres from the M6 motorway. It is accessed by a bridle path off a local road from the R362 road in the village of Bellanamullia on the western outskirts of Athlone.

Gallery

See also

References

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  1. a b Taken from information board onsite.
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External links

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