Aghnaskeagh Cairns


Aghnaskeagh Cairns is a chambered cairn and portal tomb forming a national monument in County Louth, Ireland.

Location

Aghnaskeagh Cairns are located south of Slieve Foy, to the west of the N1.

History and archaeology

The two cairns may have been connected by a gallery.

Portal tomb

The northern cairn is a dolmen with the capstone missing. Two portal stones and a back stone remain. Six Bronze Age cist burials were later added. Archeologists found potsherds, cremated bone, food vessels and a blue glass bead on the site, as well as the remains of blackberries under one of the cists, presumably as grave-goods.

Chambered cairn

The southern cairn is a chambered cairn with four cists at the eastern end. Excavations revealed cremated bone, potsherds and scrapers. A burial was also made here in the early Christian era.