Annadorn Dolmen

Downpatrick, United Kingdom

Annadorn dolmen has a large, low, slightly displaced capstone about 65 cm thick covering a rectangular chamber and supported by three stones about 60 cm high. An account of 1802 suggests that it was formerly set beneath a large rectangular cairn 60 ft in diameter and approached by a lintelled passage, so it could be the remains of a passage grave.

Another possible explanation could be that the supporting stones were originally upright supporting the capstone, representing a more typical tripod dolmen. The monument has not been excavated and closer examination would be required to correctly interpret the site. The capstone has many small solution pits on the upper surface, two of which appear to have been enlarged. The 1802 account also says the chamber under the capstone contained ashes and a number of bones.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: Prehistoric
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in United Kingdom

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

tom reid (3 years ago)
Amazing look back to 4500 years, to the history of our week country.
Paddy_ RR (4 years ago)
Not much to see unfortunately and the previously mentioned information boards have been removed but the Dolmen is in good condition (all things considered) and the views of the surrounding countryside are quite good.
Patricia O'Neill (4 years ago)
Easy to access though not wheelchair friendly.
Paul Smyth (5 years ago)
It is good to go sit by your self someone's nice to do it
Michael McKelvey (5 years ago)
Beautiful out of the way lovely place
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.