# Study Notes: Wedge Tombs in Ireland ## Overview of Wedge Tombs Wedge tombs are a type of megalithic tomb that first appeared in Ireland between **2500–1800 BC**. They are a significant part of Ireland's prehistoric landscape, making up **33% of all known megalithic tombs** in the country. Out of the **1535 recorded megalithic tombs**, at least **505 wedge tombs** survive today. ### Key Features - **Geographic Distribution**: - Half of all wedge tombs are found in **Munster**, with notable concentrations in: - **The Burren and southeast Clare** - **East Tipperary** - **Western Cork and Kerry** - **Cork** alone has **114 recorded examples**, making them the oldest visible monuments in many parts of the county. - Absent from **eastern Cork**. - **Landscape Settings**: - Found in diverse locations, including **coastal areas**, **upland valleys**, and **hilly terrain**. - Can occur in **isolation** or in **local clusters**. - **Architectural Characteristics**: - Recognizable by their **wedge-shaped ground plan**: - **Narrower and lower** towards the back. - **Long profile** with distinct chambers: - **Main chamber**: Often contains burials. - **Entrance stone/septal slab**: Marks the entrance. - **Portico/antechamber**: Found in larger examples. - Example components: - **Roof stone/capstone** - **Orthostat** (upright stones) - **Backstone** **Example Wedge Tombs**: - **Baurnadomeeny, Co. Tipperary** - **Labbacallee, Co. Cork** (2400–1800 BC) --- ## Origins and Cultural Context Wedge tombs are part of a broader **gallery tomb tradition** in Western Europe, dating back to the **4th millennium BC**. They are believed to be linked to the arrival of **Beaker-using people** from **northwestern France**, where similar **allees couvertes** gallery tombs exist. ### Beaker Pottery Connection - **Beaker pottery** has been found in **~33% of excavated wedge tombs** in Ireland. - This suggests that wedge tombs and Beaker pottery may have been part of a **single cultural package** introduced by external colonization. The **southwest region of Ireland** was likely the initial focus of colonization, as evidenced by the high concentration of wedge tombs in this area. --- ## Notable Examples of Wedge Tombs ### 1. **Labbacallee Wedge Tomb (Co. Cork)** - **Timeframe**: 2400–1800 BC - **Key Findings**: - **Burials**: - Human bone fragments, including: - A **young adult male** and a **young male child**. - A **female skull** and **cremated bone**. - A **headless skeleton** of an adult female, buried in two separate chambers. - Likely reflects **superstitions** about controlling supernatural powers. - **Artifacts**: - Pottery fragments. - Animal bones. - **Cist Burials**: - Two cists (stone-lined graves) were found outside the tomb: - One contained the bones of a **19-year-old woman** and fragments of an **Early Bronze Age Food Vessel**. - The other contained a single pottery sherd, possibly from an **Early Bronze Age urn**. The name "Labbacallee" is an anglicized version of the Irish **"Leaba Caillighe"**, meaning "Bed of the Hag/Witch." - **Radiocarbon Dating**: - Samples from human bones suggest burials occurred **just before 2000 BC**. - The **earliest burial** may date to **~2300 BC**. ### 2. **Toormore Wedge Tomb** - **Ritualistic Use**: - Evidence of **ritual deposition**: - **White quartz pebbles**. - Entrance pots filled with **tooling debris**. - **Metal Deposits**: - Decorated **bronze axe heads**. - **Two copper ingots**. - **Interpretation**: - Unlike Labbacallee, Toormore appears to have been used for **ritual purposes** rather than primarily as a burial site. --- ## Spatial and Cultural Patterns ### Distribution and Alignment - Wedge tombs are primarily found in the **west of Ireland**, unlike other megalithic tomb types (court, portal, and passage tombs). - Many are located near **mountains**, such as the **Ox Mountains in Mayo**. - Most wedge tombs are aligned **westerly**, facing the **sunset**. The western distribution may reflect stronger connections to an **Atlantic seaboard network**, while the east had closer ties to **Britain**. ### Societal Implications - **Agriculture**: - Pollen studies indicate widespread **woodland clearance** for farming during this period. - This marked the beginning of a long-term transformation from a **heavily wooded landscape** to a more **open, field-based environment**. - **Metal Production**: - Some wedge tombs, such as Toormore, suggest involvement in **metalworking**. It is a common misconception that all wedge tombs were used exclusively for burials. Some, like Toormore, had **ritualistic purposes**. ### Social Structure - Wedge tombs likely reflect **local residence patterns** based on **kin groups** connected by **common descent** or **marriage**. - They contributed to a **new social order** in the southwest of Ireland during the Chalcolithic period. --- ## Key Takeaways - **Wedge tombs** are a distinct type of megalithic tomb, primarily found in **western Ireland** and dating to **2500–1800 BC**. - They are characterized by their **wedge-shaped design**, with a **narrower, lower back** and a **long profile**. - Their origins are linked to **Beaker-using people** from **northwestern France**, and they may have been part of a **cultural package** introduced through colonization. - While many wedge tombs served as **burial sites**, others, like **Toormore**, had **ritualistic functions**. - The distribution and alignment of wedge tombs reflect **regional connections** and **societal practices**, including **agriculture** and **metalworking**. When studying wedge tombs, focus on their **geographic distribution**, **architectural features**, and **cultural significance** to understand their role in prehistoric Ireland.