Irish Guide to the Megalithic Wedge Tombs - February 2018Written by Monumental IrelandBy Maria O'Farrell Carr
 The last phase of megalithic tomb building in Ireland is represented by Wedge Tombs. These are the most common type of megalithic ‘tomb’ found in Ireland with more than 500 known examples, mainly from the North, West and South-West of the Country. Wedge Tombs generally face westwards and are so named because the burial chamber narrows at one end (usually decreasing both in height and width from West to East), producing a wedge shape in elevation… hence the name; Wedge Tombs. As with most of the megalithic tombs, what we see today would have been covered by round or oval cairns with only the entrance being visible or accessible.
Evidence from the small number of excavated examples suggests that Wedge Tombs were being built between 2,500 and 2,000 BC. Both cremated and unburnt human remains were deposited in the tombs, although cremation was more common. The remains were often, though not always, accompanied by Beaker pottery, flint and chert tools. Although thought to be initially a neolithic monument, Wedge Tomb usage covers the period when bronze first began to be used for the creation of weapons, tools and other implements. The Bronze Age began in Ireland began around 2500 B.C. and lasted until it was gradually supplanted by iron some 1500 years later.
Wedge Tombs are much smaller and simpler in construction than the great passage tombs that preceded them. This may have been due to profound climate change around the time, which proved disastrous to agriculture and may also have upset the long-establish belief system involving the veneration of tribal ancestors. It is worth pointing out that around this time that we also start to see the construction of skyward looking monuments such as stone circles and rows, possibly as a reaction to this change in climate and the perceived failure of the ancestors in preventing it.
The largest concentrations of Wedge Tombs are found in the Burren in Co. Clare and in the southwest region of Cork and Kerry. Both areas have produced quite different versions of the monuments; the Cork-Kerry Wedge Tombs (along with most examples around the Country) tend to be larger and more complex than the distinct box-shaped style only found in the Burren.
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Sources: monumentalireland.ie/
 Maria's Bio: Maria is a gifted healer, intuitive and medical intuitive from Ireland. She carries a vast wealth of experience from a life of passionate exploration of the profound healing and ancient Irish intuitive gifts she inherited from her mother and going back to her grandmothers, two great uncles who were well known healers of the sick and even as far back as her great, great, great, grandfather (b. 1837) who was known as the Irish Healer of Animals. Her depth of knowledge and wisdom comes from her deep study and relentless research. Maria offers Celtic Intuitive & Angel Card Reading thru Skype or phone to any were in the world. Maria grew up in Ireland and has travelled to over 16 countries and visited 245 cities. She has lived and travelled to Australia, Canada, North and South America, Europe and many places around the world. Maria has lived in the Okanagan, BC, Canada for years. She now lives part-time also back home in Ireland in the Spring and Autumn. Maria is the founder and publisher of 'OK In Health eMagazine' and Web site since 2014. www.OKinHealth.com is a beam of light in the wellness community. Maria was awarded the 2008 SOWINS, Women Up Front and Centre - Health & Wellness Award for her work on OK In Health eMagazine and the community.
Over the years she has also worked as an Event Organizer and brought instructors to the Okanagan from all over the world. Maria was also involved at the grass root level in bringing in Dr Deepak Chopra. Gregg Braden and Dr. Wayne Dyer to the Okanagan valley. Maria has a wealth of experience in travel, as a healer and in events organizing. Maria hosts a weekly Health Column in 5 Okanagan newspapers. In 2013, Maria brought 30 people to Ireland for the 14 day Celtic Angel Ireland Tour and since then brings two tours over to Ireland each year. Maria has published two books on Sacred Ireland and is working on her third book. Maria continues to enjoy studying, travelling, offering sessions, working on OK In Health eMagazine, loving life in the beautiful Okanagan Valley and the Sacred Ireland Tours. - Maria O'Farrell Carr Website - Email
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