Picture a clearing. Once offering splendid views now veiled by trees. That’s where Ballyedmonduff Wedge Tomb stands.
Ballyedmonduff Wedge Tomb is not just a pile of stones. It’s a portal to Ireland’s early Bronze Age. This wedge-shaped gallery grave dates back to about 1700 BC. It marks one of the last megalithic tombs built on this island.
The name “wedge tomb” comes from its shape. It’s broader and higher at the front. It narrows towards the rear. Imagine it standing here for millennia.
Ballyedmonduff Wedge Tomb sits on the south-eastern slope of Two Rock Mountain. At 1,100 feet high, it offers beautiful views. The gallery stretches 26 feet long. It includes an antechamber a main gallery and an end chamber.
Originally the Ballyedmonduff Wedge Tomb was discovered by Alderman Blacker of Dublin. The Ordnance Survey Letters of 1837 described it as “so perfect a pagan grave”. It was marked on early Ordnance Survey Maps as a “Giant’s Grave”.
Excavations in 1945 uncovered secrets of Ballyedmonduff Wedge Tomb. Archaeologists Sean Ó Riordáin and Ruadhri de Valera unearthed over 140 pottery sherds. These represented at least four Beaker pottery vessels.
The pots were decorated with incised comb and chevron motifs. Imagine the hands that crafted these vessels. Think of the rituals they witnessed. Pieces of flint and a stone macehead were also found. A small amount of cremated human remains completed the picture. Cremation was a popular custom during that era.
This provides clues about burial customs at the time. Vessels might have held food. This food was to accompany the dead on their journey to the afterlife.
Ballyedmonduff Wedge Tomb consists of a rectangular chamber. It is divided into three parts. A U-shaped double-walled kerb surrounds it. This kerb is filled with smaller stones.
One of the granite rocks shows prehistoric rock art. Seven small cup marks dot one side. Each measures between 1.5 and 3 cm in diameter. These cup marks are typical of carvings from the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age.
Ballyedmonduff is one of three wedge tombs in South Dublin. The others lie in Massy’s Wood Killakee and on Kilmashogue Mountain’s northern slopes. Their presence highlights the Dublin Mountains’ importance in prehistory.
Originally the Ballyedmonduff Wedge Tomb had extensive views east and south. The Great Sugar Loaf Mountain formed a backdrop. Imagine the ceremonies performed here. Think about the people who gathered.
However, replanting and mountain biking expansion have changed the landscape. The trees surrounding Ballyedmonduff Wedge Tomb were cut down in 2020. Mountain bike trails now run close to this national monument.
Yet Ballyedmonduff Wedge Tomb endures. It stands as a testament to ancient beliefs. It serves as a reminder of those who came before us. Close your eyes and listen. Perhaps you can hear echoes of the past carried on the wind.