Coom Wedge Tomb is a prehistoric site, a wedge tomb on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. It is near the Skellig Ring, a route in the west of the peninsula.
 Viewed from the north-east | |
  Shown within Ireland | |
| Location | Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°49′24.7″N 10°18′48.9″W / 51.823528°N 10.313583°W |
| OS grid reference | V 405 659 |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic Age Bronze Age |
Description
editThere are about 400 wedge tombs in Ireland. They are a type of gallery grave, and date from the transition between the Neolithic Age and the Bronze Age.[1]
It is aligned west-east, about 5 metres (16 ft) long and 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) wide; the entrance is at the west end. The chamber is about 3 metres (9.8 ft) long, covered by a single slab. There is an open antechamber in front of this, with three large stones on each side, the tallest about 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) high.[2][3][4]
Legend
editIn The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne, a story in Irish mythology, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne and Gráinne were pursued by Fionn mac Cumhaill. They hid in caves to evade capture or, where there were no caves, Diarmuid made shelters. Coom Wedge Tomb, being such a shelter, is known as "Diarmuid and Gráinne's Bed", like other wedge tombs in Ireland.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ "Irish wedge tombs" The Fr. O'Flanagan Heritage Centre. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ "Coom Wedge Tomb" Irish Antiquities. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Coom Wedge Tomb" Megalithic Ireland. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Coom Wedge Tomb" Megalithic Monuments of Ireland. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Mythology" Visit Ballinskelligs. Ballinskelligs Tourism. Retrieved 13 July 2020.