Monument Guide :: Prehistoric Waterford

Exploring Waterford's Ancient Monuments

Guide To Waterford Monuments

Guide To Monuments found in Waterford

Guide to Waterford Monuments

Promontory Forts Coastal Promontory Forts are monuments which most likely date to the late Prehistoric period, such as the Iron Age with the ones found in Waterford bearing much similarities to those in Britain and Brittany in northern France. All consist of a...

Guide to Waterford Monuments

Enclosures Enclosures are a common sight in the Comeragh mountains. Some are quite small while others are substantial in size. Their past function is unclear. Some are thought to have been ritual sites such as the large example at Bearna na Madra gap but it...

Guide to Waterford Monuments

Stone Circles Stone Circles are believed to be of pre-Christian date but have proven difficult to date accurately. This is mainly due to the absence of archaeological artifacts, such as pottery shards, bones, etc. which are not often found at these sites. Stone...

Guide to Waterford Monuments

Ring Forts Ring Forts are quite numerous throughout county Waterford. Known locally as a ‘Rath’ or ‘Lio's’, these monuments are also a feature of many farms throughout Ireland with well over 30,000 of them shown on the ordnance survey maps. The circular...

Guide to Waterford Monuments

Wedge Tombs Wedge Tombs are so called because of their distinctive shape, with the front of the monument being both wider and taller than the rear. These tombs, which date from the Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age period, consist of a long narrow burial chamber...

Guide to Waterford Monuments

Ring - Barrow A Ring-Barrow is a circular mound of earth which is usually quite low and surrounded by a ditch with an external bank. They date from the Neolithic – Iron age and range in overall diameter from 15 – 25 metres, though some larger examples have also been...

Guide to Waterford Monuments

Fulacht Fiadh Fulacht Fiadh sites are generally believed to have been used for cooking purposes and are usually found near a water source such as a river or stream. They consist of a horseshoe shaped grass covered mound with a depression which is composed of burnt...

Guide to Waterford Monuments

Court Tombs The term 'Court-Tomb' is used to describe this type of monument where a courtyard area is usually found at the entrance to the chambers. This courtyard which was a roofless U shaped or oval area, was possibly used as a place for burial rites or...

Guide to Waterford Monuments

Bullaun Stones Bullaun stones are a bit of a curiosity and to archaeologists are often a bit puzzling. This is mainly because their exact function remains unclear. Also uncertain is the time period and dating of these stones, although recent archaeological...

Guide to Waterford Monuments

Ogham Stones Waterford has one of the finest collections of Ogham stones found anywhere in Ireland. Ogham, which is based on the Latin alphabet, is the earliest form of written Irish language and is defined by a series of notches and strokes cut into the stone...