Clyde-Carlingford Tombs

A series of megalithic chamber tombs in southwestern Scotland and northern Ireland with some radiocarbon dates before 3000 BC, an early stage of the Neolithic. They are sometimes described as segmented gallery graves, since they have subdivided rectangular chambers. Another important characteristic was a concave or semicircular forecourt. In some of the Irish examples, this was oval or circular and they are described as court cairns. The overlying cairns are long and either oval, rectangular, or trapezoidal in shape. Collective inhumation was the normal practice, although cremation sometimes occurred in Ireland.

Group of megalithic chamber tombs found in southwest Scotland and northern Ireland. They are sometimes described as segmented gallery graves, since they consist of rectangular chambers subdivided into a number of segments. Another important characteristic was the forecourt, Concave or semicircular in shape; in some of the Irish examples this may be oval or circular and the term ‘court cairn’ is sometimes used for these tombs. The overlying cairns are normally long, but may be oval, rectangular or trapezoidal in shape. Collective inhumation was the normal practice, although cremation sometimes occurs in Ireland. Two sites have produced radiocarbon dates before 3000 be, demonstrating that these tombs were constructed from an early stage of the Neolithic.