• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

Lost Bronze Age tomb rediscovered in County Kerry in Ireland

by Dario Radley
January 19, 2024

The remnants of a Bronze Age tomb, believed to have been lost to history in the mid-19th century, have been rediscovered in County Kerry on the Atlantic coast of Ireland.

Lost Bronze Age tomb rediscovered in County Kerry in Ireland
A Dolmen Rock in the north of Tinnes, Valentia Island, County Kerry, Ireland. Credit: Kate Ware

The megalithic structure, known as Altóir na Gréine or the Sun Altar, dates back approximately 4,000 years and was thought to have been destroyed in the mid-19th century when locals reportedly dismantled it for building materials.

The tomb gained prominence in the 19th century when Lady Georgiana Chatterton, an English aristocrat and traveler, visited the site in 1838. She sketched the monument, describing it as a “curious piece of antiquity” believed to have been used for offering sacrifices to the sun. However, by 1852, antiquarian Richard Hitchcock reported that the tomb had been broken up and used for building purposes, leading to its apparent disappearance.

The recent rediscovery was made by local folklorist Billy Mag Fhloinn, who, as part of an archaeological mapping project, stumbled upon stones on the crest of a hill matching Lady Chatterton’s sketch. Mag Fhloinn’s careful examination revealed several large upright stones, called orthostats, and a capstone, comprising about a quarter of the original tomb. This finding challenges the belief that the tomb had been entirely destroyed, as previously assumed.

Mag Fhloinn said: “People had assumed it was all destroyed.” He converted his discovery into a 3D scan and sent the material to the National Monuments Service in Dublin. Archaeologist Caimin O’Brien confirmed that the stones belonged to a wedge tomb from the early Bronze Age, dating between 2500 BCE and 2000 BCE.

RelatedStories

Ancient Xiaohe boat burials reveal symbolic water journey into the afterlife, new study finds. (Illustration by Anja Schorneck). Credit: Caspari, G., Asian Archaeology (2025)

Ancient Xiaohe boat burials reveal symbolic water journey into the afterlife, new study finds

June 14, 2025
New study reveals how the 3,600-year-old Nebra Sky Disk was crafted

Ancient manufacturing secrets of the Nebra Sky Disc reconstructed by researchers

June 7, 2025

Wedge tombs, like Altóir na Gréine, are common megalithic burial structures in Ireland, often positioned on high ground with specific alignments. They are associated with the Bronze Age practice of interring bodies and conducting ceremonies. The newly rediscovered tomb’s apparent northwest/southeast orientation raises questions about possible alignments with the sun.

The significance of this rediscovery extends beyond the local community, as the tomb will now be added to the database of national monuments.

“For the first time in over 180 years, archaeologists know where the tomb is situated, and it will enhance our understanding of wedge tomb distribution,” archaeologist Caimin O’Brien told RTÉ. This rediscovered tomb will also become part of a deep-mapping project conducted by Sacred Heart University, a US institution recording burial tombs on the Dingle Peninsula and creating 3D models for further analysis.

Tony Bergin, president of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, mentioned a theory linking this specific type of tomb to a people involved in copper mining, drawing comparisons to similar tombs found in Brittany, France.

Despite the newfound clarity on the tomb’s location, questions about its original destruction in the 19th century persist. Folklorist Mag Fhloinn speculates on the taboo surrounding the destruction of such sites during that period, suggesting beliefs in bad luck or disaster associated with their demise.

Share1Tweet1ShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Shakespeare’s famous “upstart crow” insult may have come from collaborator Thomas Nashe
Archaeology

Shakespeare’s famous “upstart crow” insult may have come from collaborator Thomas Nashe, new research reveals

June 25, 2025
Ancient mosaics and sacred inscriptions uncovered in Turkey’s Olympos reveal early Christian history
Archaeology

Ancient mosaics and sacred inscriptions uncovered in Turkey’s Olympos reveal early Christian history

June 25, 2025
Hidden treasures uncovered during A47 roadworks reveal secrets of Norfolk’s past
Archaeology

Hidden artifacts uncovered during A47 roadworks reveal secrets of Norfolk’s past

June 24, 2025
Lost Tiwanaku temple unearthed in Bolivia reveals ancient Andes trade and ritual network
Archaeology

Lost Tiwanaku temple unearthed in Bolivia reveals ancient Andes trade and ritual network

June 24, 2025
Genetic study reveals the origin and diversity of the Huns
Archaeology

European Huns were not of Turkic origin but had ancient Siberian roots, linguistic study reveals

June 24, 2025
Viking Age burial near Aarhus linked to Harald Bluetooth’s noble allies unearthed in Denmark
Anthropology

Viking Age burial near Aarhus unearthed with ties to Harald Bluetooth’s noble allies

June 23, 2025

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
108K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

May 28, 2025
Viking-era boat burial unearthed in Norway reveals 1,100-year-old remains of woman and her dog

Viking-era boat burial unearthed in Norway reveals 1,100-year-old remains of woman and her dog

June 9, 2025
6,200-year-old ‘cone-headed’ skull found in Iran reveals cranial modification and death by blunt force

6,200-year-old ‘cone-headed’ skull found in Iran reveals cranial modification and death by blunt force

June 13, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

Shakespeare’s famous “upstart crow” insult may have come from collaborator Thomas Nashe

Shakespeare’s famous “upstart crow” insult may have come from collaborator Thomas Nashe, new research reveals

June 25, 2025
Ancient mosaics and sacred inscriptions uncovered in Turkey’s Olympos reveal early Christian history

Ancient mosaics and sacred inscriptions uncovered in Turkey’s Olympos reveal early Christian history

June 25, 2025
Hidden treasures uncovered during A47 roadworks reveal secrets of Norfolk’s past

Hidden artifacts uncovered during A47 roadworks reveal secrets of Norfolk’s past

June 24, 2025
Lost Tiwanaku temple unearthed in Bolivia reveals ancient Andes trade and ritual network

Lost Tiwanaku temple unearthed in Bolivia reveals ancient Andes trade and ritual network

June 24, 2025
Genetic study reveals the origin and diversity of the Huns

European Huns were not of Turkic origin but had ancient Siberian roots, linguistic study reveals

June 24, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.