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Coom Wedge Tomb

Coordinates: 51°49′24.7″N 10°18′48.9″W / 51.823528°N 10.313583°W / 51.823528; -10.313583
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Coom Wedge Tomb
Viewed from the north-east
Coom Wedge Tomb is located in Ireland
Coom Wedge Tomb
Shown within Ireland
LocationIveragh Peninsula, County Kerry
Coordinates51°49′24.7″N 10°18′48.9″W / 51.823528°N 10.313583°W / 51.823528; -10.313583
OS grid referenceV 405 659
History
PeriodsNeolithic Age
Bronze Age

Coom Wedge Tomb is a prehistoric site, a wedge tomb on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. It is near the Skellig Ring, a route in the west of the peninsula.

Description

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There are about 400 wedge tombs in Ireland. They are a type of gallery grave, and date from the transition between the Neolithic Age and the Bronze Age.[1]

It is aligned west-east, about 5 metres (16 ft) long and 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) wide; the entrance is at the west end. The chamber is about 3 metres (9.8 ft) long, covered by a single slab. There is an open antechamber in front of this, with three large stones on each side, the tallest about 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) high.[2][3][4]

Legend

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In The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne, a story in Irish mythology, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne and Gráinne were pursued by Fionn mac Cumhaill. They hid in caves to evade capture or, where there were no caves, Diarmuid made shelters. Coom Wedge Tomb, being such a shelter, is known as "Diarmuid and Gráinne's Bed", like other wedge tombs in Ireland.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Irish wedge tombs" The Fr. O'Flanagan Heritage Centre. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Coom Wedge Tomb" Irish Antiquities. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Coom Wedge Tomb" Megalithic Ireland. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Coom Wedge Tomb" Megalithic Monuments of Ireland. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Mythology" Visit Ballinskelligs. Ballinskelligs Tourism. Retrieved 13 July 2020.