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<< Our Photo Pages >> Proleek Dolmen - Portal Tomb in Ireland (Republic of) in Co. Louth

Submitted by Anthony_Weir on Monday, 07 March 2022  Page Views: 18554

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Proleek Dolmen Alternative Name: The Giant's Load, The Giants Load
Country: Ireland (Republic of) County: Co. Louth Type: Portal Tomb
Nearest Town: Dundalk
Map Ref: J0826511033
Discovery Map Number: D29
Latitude: 54.037203N  Longitude: 6.348266W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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bishop_pam visited on 25th Oct 2018 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

jeffrep visited on 9th May 2009 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 2

Macha visited - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 4

DrewParsons davidmorgan have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4 Ambience: 4.67 Access: 3.33

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by Sunny100 : The Proleek dolmen or burial chamber near Ballymacscanlan dates from the Neolithic period - some 5,000 years ago. The huge capstone measures approx 3.8 x 3.2 metres and is said to weigh somewhere between 30-40 tonnes. It is supported on only two up-rights each about 2.3 metres high. Local legend says the capstone was put into place by the Scottish giant Parrah MacShagean, who reputedly is buried n... (Vote or comment on this photo)
Approached via Ballymascanlon House Hotel, and on foot through the stableyard, following the signs, this fine dolmen in Co. Louth has a huge 40-tonne capstone balanced on two portal-stones over 2.1 metres high and a backstone 1.8 metres high. There may not have been other stones to complete the chamber.

There are always many pebbles on top of the domed capstone: if one tossed up does not come rolling down again, the thrower will be married within twelve months!
Close by is a ruined wedge-tomb, two of whose roofstones survive.

~ 5 km ESE is a large court-tomb at Rockmarshall, about 50 metres SW of Rockmarshall House. It has a broad court of low stones, and a wide, four-chambered gallery entered through fine jamb-stones and a displaced lintel. Some kerbstones survive on the NW side, and some of the cairn on the SE.

Note: New ideas on dolmens, in conversation with Vicki Cummings and Colin Richards - video and book available now, see the latest comment on our page
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Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by kenwilliams : Just before sunset on 30/12/05. Notice the sun shines onto the bottom of the capstone at this time of year, though it will occur right up until the end of February. (5 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by DrewParsons : A walk of a few hundred metres through the grounds of the golf club brings you to this fine dolmen and its adjacent wedge tomb. The way is signposted with public access, although it did feel odd walking through a golf club grounds to reach the site! (Vote or comment on this photo)

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by KenWilliams : On a winters sunset, 2005 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by DrewParsons : Photographed during a visit in October 2008. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by holger_rix : From Old Postcard

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by mythical_ireland : Site in co. Louth:

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by Bladup : Proleek.

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by DrewParsons : October 2008.

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by davidmorgan : With signpost.

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by siunni9 : We loved our visit here, and would have certainly appreciated a shorter walk :-) The wonder of the plot was amazing to be in close proximity to. Beautiful and consuming all at once! (6 comments)

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by KenWilliams : Same evening as the colour sunset pic below, I liked the sky in this one in B&W for a change. (1 comment)

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by davidmorgan : A finely positioned capstone.

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by Flickr : the dolmen at sunset Image copyright: Barry Kieran Photography (Barry Kieran), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by Bladup : Proleek.

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by Bladup

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by DrewParsons : The site sign.

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by jeffrep : Proleek Dolmen, County Louth, Ireland.

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by Flickr : Proleek Dolmen @ night Image copyright: Barry Kieran Photography (Barry Kieran), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by durhamnature : Drawing of the second cromlech, also with with stones on top, from Wakeman's Handbook, via archive.org

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by davidmorgan : Here it appears to have only two supports. (1 comment)

Proleek Dolmen
Proleek Dolmen submitted by Anthony_Weir : Site in Co. Louth

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 78m ESE 116° Proleek Wedge Tomb* Wedge Tomb (J0833611000)
 1.5km SSE 153° Bellurgan Stone Circle (J090097)
 2.7km NNW 347° Aghadh Na Sceach* Chambered Tomb
 3.7km NNE 23° Ravensdale Dolmen Burial Chamber or Dolmen (J0962314529)
 4.2km WSW 258° Carn Beg Stone Circle
 4.4km NNW 332° Kilnasaggart Pillar Stone* Early Christian Sculptured Stone (J061149)
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 4.9km NNE 20° Ravensdale Park Stone Row / Alignment (J098157)
 5.2km SE 127° Rockmarshall Court Tomb
 5.9km WNW 289° Carrickedmond W Stone Row / Alignment (J026128)
 6.0km W 261° Balregan Standing Stones (J023100)
 6.1km WNW 288° Carrickedmond E Stone Row / Alignment (J024128)
 7.3km W 263° Killin Stone Circle (J010100)
 8.5km NNE 13° Clontygora E* Wedge Tomb
 8.5km NNE 12° Clontygora* Court Tomb (J0986519419)
 10.4km SW 228° Clochafarmore* Standing Stone (Menhir) (J007039)
 10.5km W 278° Edenakill Stone Row / Alignment (H978123)
 10.9km NNW 330° Slieve Gullion* Chambered Tomb (J02482033)
 12.0km NW 320° Aughadave Stone Row / Alignment (J0034020070)
 12.4km WSW 251° Ballinloughan* Rock Art (H966067)
 12.7km NW 320° The Oul Grave Portal Tomb (H9991820624)
 12.9km ENE 62° St Bronagh's Graveyard (Kilbroney)* Ancient Cross (J195174)
 13.1km N 354° Ballymacdermot* Court Tomb (J06562403)
 13.5km NW 321° Ballykeel* Portal Tomb (H9952721328)
 13.6km NNW 329° St Moninna's Holy Well (Killevy)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (J010226)
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"Proleek Dolmen" | Login/Create an Account | 9 News and Comments
  
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In conversation with Vicki Cummings and Colin Richards on Dolmens - Available now by Andy B on Sunday, 06 March 2022
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Watch the recording of an evening with Professor Vicki Cummings of the University of Central Lancashire and Professor Colin Richards of the UHI Archaeology Institute

Vicki and Colin discuss an exciting new perspective on prehistoric dolmens. The event was held in front of a live audience at UCLan Research Centre for Field Archaeology and Forensic Taphonomy and includes a question and answer session.

Dolmens are distinctive form of monument found across most areas of northern Europe. They have long been considered a form of chambered tomb consisting of vertical megaliths supporting a large, horizontal capstone. Architecturally, however, they differ from other Early Neolithic funerary monuments. It is the capstones that set these monuments apart from known forms of chambered tomb. These enormous stones, sometimes weighing over 50 tonnes, are perched on top of three or more supporting uprights.

In their new book, Monuments in the Making: Raising the Great Dolmens in Early Neolithic Northern Europe, Professors Cummings and Richards argue that the megalithic architecture identified as a dolmen is not a chambered tomb at all but instead is a qualitatively different form of monument. They go on to reassess the presence of the dead and argue the funerary activity was part of a process of generating vibrancy to the materiality of the dolmen. As such dolmens were megalithic installations, magical and extraordinary in construction and strategically positioned to induce both drama and awe in their encounter.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0aBH3KkNCI

More on their book here
https://archaeologyorkney.com/2021/09/29/dolmens-built-to-enchant/

https://www.oxbowbooks.com/oxbow/monuments-in-the-making.html

You can also read a paper of theirs from 2014 which is open access:
The essence of the dolmen: the Architecture of megalithic construction
http://journals.openedition.org/pm/944?lang=en
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: In conversation with Vicki Cummings and Colin Richards on Dolmens - Available now by Runemage on Monday, 07 March 2022
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    The book and the video present the culmination of 10 years of their work, so it's very interesting to see how they came to the conclusions which they reached.
    the most outstanding quote for me was Vicky's when they were discussing the significance of cupmarked stones being selected as capstones, something that they'd initially not seen as significant until later. It's from 42 minutes to give it context,
    "The preconceptions that we have shape everything that we do and we need to let go of them to get to grips with those things"

    I also found their thoughts on dolmens being places of wonder and awe insightful, both on their locations in the landscape itself where often you can be very close but not see them at all until you take the correct route to be 'presented' to them, or them to you, and in their fabulous construction where visually everything seems to balance in a somehow impossible way like the middle one whose name I've forgotten in the slide at 1:05.04.

    I could hear Vicky very well, but on my pc there was a lot of sound interference on Colin's channel so maybe subtitles is the way to go if you have the same difficulty.
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: In conversation with Vicki Cummings and Colin Richards on Dolmens - Available now by AngieLake on Monday, 07 March 2022
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      Hi Rune. I suppose St Lythans didn't appear in the book or video? It would have been interesting to hear what they thought of the hole that makes the rear-chamber stone look like the open mouth of a human being. (Just in case it doesn't resemble a man!)
      Checking out my 2002 dowsing plan - during that exercise the hole was approached three times. (No way I can prove the ceremony ever happened, but I always recorded all of my findings.)
      [ Reply to This ]

Re: Proleek by Andy B on Monday, 07 May 2018
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National Monuments Service:
Class Megalithic tomb - portal tomb
Townland PROLEEK
SMR No. LH004-074----
Description The following description is derived from both the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986) and the 'Archaeological Survey of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1991). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007 This portal-tomb is situated some 80m WNW of wedge-tomb (LH004-075----). It consists of a chamber, facing NW, represented by a massive roof stone resting on two portal stones and a side stone. The roof stone measures 3.8m by 3.2m and the portals are about 2.3m high. The side stone is buttressed by a modern stone and concrete support. No trace of a cairn is visible. (Borlase 1897, 305-7)

https://maps.environ.ie/arcgis/rest/services/NM/NationalMonuments/MapServer/0/84237/attachments/2912
[ Reply to This ]

Proleek Dolmen featured on Great British Railway Journeys goes to Ireland by Andy B on Wednesday, 05 November 2014
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Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw's Britain remains.

He crosses the Irish Sea to discover the rich railway history of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, following the unfurling 19th century expansion of the tracks from Dublin to Londonderry.

Michael explores the Victorians' fascination with antiquity, by visiting the amazing Cromlech stones of Dundalk [ie Proleek]. He reaches for the stars at the Armagh Observatory and travels in style along the steam railway of Downpatrick.

View online here (UK only or via proxy)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01bqn8y
[ Reply to This ]

Proleek Dolmen's Summer Solstice alignment by Andy B on Thursday, 17 July 2008
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It is known as the ‘Giant’s Load’ and, when you stand under the great capstone of Proleek Dolmen, it’s not difficult to see why. This huge boulder is reputed to weigh around 40 tonnes, yet it sits comfortably on top of three upright stones as if it was a sheet of paper and not a giant rock.

Legend says the stone was carried there by a Scottish giant called Parrah Boug McShagean, who is reputed to be buried nearby. Another tale says it was brought by a giant from a nearby mountain. Proleek is one of Ireland’s best-known examples of what archaeologists call a Portal Tomb or Dolmen, and photographs of the monument are featured far and wide.

A new theory suggests the tomb may have been deliberately aligned towards Slieve Gullion, where on the summer solstice, the sun sets behind the mountain.

See more about this alignment, including some new images of Proleek, at: Mythical Ireland:
http://www.mythicalireland.com
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Proleek by Cloghmore on Friday, 15 June 2001
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There is a much easier approach from a minor road which runs north from Ballymascanlan to Greenore road near the new bridge. Drive until you come to a bridge across the stream on your left. take the left fork of the lane and approach Proleek by pathway at the back of the Golf Course. About 500m walking maximum.

BTMcElherron
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