What Is A Dolmen?

February 3, 2018 by Irish American Mom 20 Comments

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Dolmens are megalithic monuments found dotted around the Irish landscape. But what is a dolmen?

Standing for millennia, they perch majestically on grassy hillsides, on craggy cliffs, on winding roadsides, and even right between modern day homes.

A large dolmen with three standing stones and a large capstone, with a mountain in the background — Legananny Dolmen Mourne Mountains County Down <a href=httpswwwflickrcomphotos target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

What countries have dolmens?
What is a Dolmen?
How Many Portal Tombs Are Found in Ireland?
What Were Dolmen's Used for?
Meaning of the Term Dolmen
Dolmen with the Largest Capstone
Megalithic Legends
How Old Are Ireland's Dolmens?
Dolmens Used As Mass Rocks

What countries have dolmens?

I think of dolmens as symbols of Ireland. When I was a little girl we would always be on the lookout for dolmens when driving around the Irish countryside.

Now, dolmens are not unique to the Emerald Isle, but are found throughout the British Isles and other parts of Europe and Asia. Dolmens are found in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France (especially in Brittany), in Britain and all over the Korean Peninsula. There are over 35,000 dolmens on the Korean Peninsula.

Ireland may not have as many dolmens as South Korea, but there still are plenty to be seen.

Many dolmens have survived in Ireland, because Irish people over the centuries were afraid to destroy them.

The Irish are a superstitious race. Many believed that damaging dolmen sites could stir the wrath of the fairies or our Celtic ancestors.

A large flat topped dolmen in a rocky landscape — Poulnabrone Dolmen found in The Burren County Clare <a href=httpswwwflickrcomphotosfuriobrady3513219328inphotolist 6msaH3 69xRD9 8ZqXCz jqhvWD njwm5v 5wFCJC 5wBiL4 7Y9ik1 oJb3Dn 7Y9jxA 7Y9j1N 42rNTg 7Y9kQo 7Js2dg 8sMspK 7Js2BH fNDyZF 5cBA9R 4P1R5r 6q7rEv 9XoB4N pZ2RED eGM5XQ p3g9pU rtyi2c eyGKta b2FxDX 36zcQ 7Js23t jZjGN jZjG7 936YUj oa2vhG o87vUx o87vmZ ajsrNa nNR8fh nQSYwB 7utsg7 yYmwX 9xPXAg 8DQ8ki pYeT3N obVknE oDE4nm wKDcoS wEfory oid2tp 5iSZmV o5Wds9 target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

What is a Dolmen?

Dolmens are single-chamber megalithic tombs. Vertical stones usually support a massive flat capstone making the structure resemble a table.

These stone uprights hold the upper stone or capstone, which can weigh many tonnes.

When first built dolmens were typically covered with earth or smaller stones to form a tumulus. Over the centuries these earthen coverings have weathered away, revealing their spectacular stone "skeletons."

A rock structure beside a flat mountain — Dolmen at Carrowmore County Sligo

How Many Portal Tombs Are Found in Ireland?

Ireland is home to over 150 of these ancient portal tombs, and so I think it is fair to consider these historic monuments as symbols of our ancient past.

And so today, I hope you'll join me as we take a little tour of Ireland's wondrous dolmens, both great and small.

A dolmen with a massive capstone beneath and blue and cloudy sky — Dolmen at Portnoo County Donegal <a href=httpswwwflickrcomphotosleppre29583181075inphotolist nPjPwq aCp8F6 A82inZ o4M65G o4LS9b zmk1 ec6Sst 4qXW4u 36zcw AneJbW 6qbzY5 yYjF6 7iWWnA o6dJs9 zsD51p 7rnvNQ o6GaDY aDhm2W AneHMQ fxLfx aDhj6w 4CoFcu ApwQyP oDQWAm 8PquDM KTerwk M5ax58 aDhkGN aDhisL vzM9gQ vQ5qqb vSoB58 vQ5p9J tJY2fk o6HwTs nPjGjR o6Hauf nNR84W envVqC envUms ecbWUu c4VqkQ aDdvKD aDduSk aDhifs aDdmxc 5jDhCx 4NZtZH yYs7g 4fyzZ target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

What Were Dolmen's Used for?

Archaeologists believe that these ancient monuments were erected to remember the dead.

They may also have been spiritual sites used as places to host ceremonies and commemorations.

Meaning of the Term Dolmen

The term dolmen means stone table. The word dolmen is derived from two Breton words, with "dual" meaning table, and "maen" meaning stone.

The most amazing thing about some of these dolmens is their massive capstones.

A large dolmen or megalith in a field — Slidderyford Dolmen near Newcastle County Down <a href=httpswwwflickrcomphotostm tm5870205387inphotolist 9WJkxH 4WC3Kn 61ZtVf yYmwX envQsq 5iSZmV 36zcQ 7utsg7 envUSS envX77 nNQPxf envYPb dVsypM pNMCaE 9XoB4N ojycbx yYmwZ 7Js23t djdnNy yYjF1 onnScj ohKJe3 8wLF9i oDE4nm 6JUKFM envXCd 61DYwQ wuDn8x 4EmgVv 3fuLAR 6JYR69 nsbuEr JNWCqg 4EmgUn 5iSXzk 36zc1 BdDHPh abRiPT 6m4QR7 pyUiSo gfNmMD UDs7ie hVDg17 6Gxehc RkYUYy HWRMTc ec769c djdjUp envRAG 4sdCBW target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

At a time when there was no power assisted hoist or crane, our ancestors figured out how to raise, prop, position and balance these gigantic table tops upon three or four supporting stones.

How these ancient builders raised these capstones on top of three upright stones is truly amazing.

Archaeologists have not been able to solve this puzzle.

Large dolmen with a woman standing beside it — Brownshill Dolmen Co Carlow <a href=httpscommonswikimediaorgwikiFileBrownshill DolmenJPG target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

Dolmen with the Largest Capstone

Brownshill, the largest dolmen in Ireland and Europe is found in County Carlow.

That massive capstone weighs over 150 tons (tonnes in English spelling), which is a staggering 330,693 pounds.

Our Celtic forefathers were no weaklings, that's for sure

A megalithic tomb in a green field — Ballykeel Dolmen County Armagh <a href=httpwwwgeographiephoto257798 target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

Whenever I lay eyes on a dolmen I can't help but ask the inevitable question - how on earth did early Irish men and women, manipulate these gargantuan stones into place?

And the truth is, nobody truly knows how they did it.

Large stone mounument in a field — Proleek Dolmen County Louth <a href=httpscelticvalleyceramicscom target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

Megalithic Legends

Irish legends claim it was early Irish giants who tossed these monuments together using their mythical strength and prowess to mark the landscape with these enduring memorials.

A troupe of mere mortals surrounding these stones could never generate enough manpower to heave and hoist these megaliths into position.

A portal tomb in a snowy landscape — Dolmen at Gaulstown County Waterford <a href=httpwwwgeographiephoto1013199 target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

And so it's safe to say, some form of ancient engineering marvel was utilized by our ancestors, to create these rocky shrines.

For me, dolmens are lasting proof of the genius of our forebears, testament to their skill and determination to mark the landscape of their homeland.

A dolmen with two capstones in a green field — Aughnacliff Dolmen County Longford <a href=httpswwwflickrcomphotostm tm5870205387inphotolist 9WJkxH 4WC3Kn 61ZtVf yYmwX envQsq 5iSZmV 36zcQ 7utsg7 envUSS envX77 nNQPxf envYPb dVsypM pNMCaE 9XoB4N ojycbx yYmwZ 7Js23t djdnNy yYjF1 onnScj ohKJe3 8wLF9i oDE4nm 6JUKFM envXCd 61DYwQ wuDn8x 4EmgVv 3fuLAR 6JYR69 nsbuEr JNWCqg 4EmgUn 5iSXzk 36zc1 BdDHPh abRiPT 6m4QR7 pyUiSo gfNmMD UDs7ie hVDg17 6Gxehc RkYUYy HWRMTc ec769c djdjUp envRAG 4sdCBW target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

How Old Are Ireland's Dolmens?

Dolmens date from between 4,000 BC to 2,000 BC and tend to have a large concentration along Ireland's coastline, especially in the east.

Ancient remains have been found near some of these monuments, and so it is thought they may have been used to commemorate the dead.

Ireland's ancient dolmens were primarily used as burial chambers for important people within a community. Weapons, pottery, pots, knives and other tools have been found when some dolmens were excavated.

Or perhaps they were places for holding ceremonies and celebrations.

A flat topped dolmen or portal tomb beneath a purple and orange sky — Poulnabrone at sunset County Clare <a href=httpswwwflickrcomphotosfuriobrady3508863416inphotolist 6m4QR7 SPb78a aDdygz aDdrwH aDhdwL aDhkGN 4wvqS aDdq6V 77wYUc aDdo96 5Y4v aDdnur 5wtAGN 9P1Q3j jZjHF pdbXzW ec769c ec5v6G ec5Knb 6JUMhz EaFM5N UDs7ie nPkbx3 4fyzD 9XkJKr nPjZZa 4jjmWT o6Hv5N 9XoAQd yYjF3 cvhZKU 9WMd2j 61DZku 7X1TbY 6GxviF djdozd 6GBfaA 6GBskN o6Pt3n 6Gx1Ug 6GwUfX 6Gxisg 6GBAif 6GBjkA 6GwZi4 6GBdG7 6GB6Q1 ec5yUC 6GxtYz 3yk4fe target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

Poulnabrone Dolmen in County Clare is the oldest known dolmen in Ireland. It was built sometime between 5,200 and 5,800 years ago.

When excavated the remains of 22 people from the Neolithic Age were found.

Their burial site beneath the monument included personal items like pottery and stone axes.

A dolmen shaped like an altar beside the ocean — Altar Wedge Tomb near Schull County Cork

Dolmens Used As Mass Rocks

The dolmen pictured above is found on the Mizen Peninsula in County Cork, a few miles west of the town of Schull. It's called the Altar Wedge tomb. Perhaps it was used by the druids as an altar, but the Irish used it as an altar far more recently.

At the time of the Penal Laws in Ireland (17th century), when attending Mass was illegal, this dolmen in Cork was used as an altar by a priest-in-hiding, who would gather his flock to covertly say Mass.

Locals would surround the area with lookouts for English soldiers, as the Irish prayed at their mass rock.

A stone portal tomb surrounded by stone walls — Dolmen inside the stone fort at Carrowmore County Sligo

With more than 100 dolmens scattered throughout Ireland, we know for certain our forebears attributed some special significance to building these monuments.

They built these structures to last, and they have stood the tests of time. Some are over 5000 years old and are found in various states of repair and disrepair throughout Ireland.

Vegetation growing on top of a dolmen with a giant capstone — Dolment at Carrickglass County Sligo <a href=httpwwwgeographiephoto1011926 target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

Some are covered in vegetation.

The huge dolmen pictured above in found in County Sligo.

A close up of a dolmen monument with rust colored stripes on the stones — Faymore Dolmen County Donegal <a href=httpwwwgeographiephoto2330583 target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

Some simply stand sentinel by the roadside.

The example above stands beside a road in County Donegal.

A large dolmen or stone monument in front of a house — Ballylumford Dolmen known as the Druids Altar in County Antrim <a href=httpwwwgeographiephoto496709 target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

Some give historical interest to a garden landscape.

The photo above shows the Ballylumford Dolmen in County Antrim. It is known locally as the Druid's Altar.

Dolmen beside trees — Kilmogue Portal Tomb County Kilkenny <a href=httpwwwgeographiephoto103548 target= blank rel=noopener>Image Credit<a>

Some lie hidden amongst the trees and bushes.

The massive structure with a lopsided, large capstone is found in County Kilkenny.

Stone monument in a field under a mountain — Carrowmore County Sligo

And some, simply take your breath away, perched amidst the spectacular scenery of the Emerald Isle.

The photo above is of Carrowmore in County Sligo. This site has been nominated to recieve the distinction of being a Unesco World Heritage Site.

And so if you take a trip to Ireland, and love to discover a little bit of history, do visit a dolmen on your travels.

Who knows? The site of one of these dolmens may turn out to be your Irish thin place.

Happy travels.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Mairéad -Irish American Mom

Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th

Mairéad - rhymes with parade

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