A hilltop tomb thought be more than 5,000 years old has been discovered near the Tievebaun mountain on the Sligo/Leitrim. The archaelogist who made the discovery, Mr Gibbons, said that the hilltop tomb was probably not discovered before now because of its dramatic setting on the edge of the mountain.
“This dramatic spur would have been regarded as being on the edge of the world and at the entrance to another world,” said the archaeologist. He said the discoveries challenge the widely held view that there were no significant upland settlements in north Leitrim in pre-historic times.
Mr Gibbons discovered the tomb on Tievebaun while exploring the Eagle’s Rock a few months ago.
Mr Gibbons said there were a series of hilltop tombs across the north west, including Queen Maeve’s grave on Knocknarea. “This one is a Neolithic tomb probably built 5,500 years ago as a communal burial area. It is a spectacular setting overlooking Donegal Bay, Slieve League, Lough Melvin and Glenade lake.”