Classification of Pilgrimage Sites: (STRICTLY FOR EGGHEADS)

Monuments – structures left o the landscape by earlier civilizations
Artifacts – moveable objects created by earlier civilizations
Megalithic Tomb. Built of large stones; burial chamber(s); roofed in stone; on an earthen mound; known as Dolmens, Cromlechs or Druid’s Altars. 4 categories:

Court tombs (open court at entrance) used for relig. Ceremonies – face east, burials cremated; Before 3000 BC
Portal Tombs – 3 or more stones w/ a capstone; usually Domlons (150 in Ireland) 2500-2000 BC
Passage Tombs round mond w/ passage into chamber. Neolithic age c4000-200 BC often faced w/ white guartz; found in concentrations (300 in Ireland) e.g. Newgrange
Wedge Tombs; chamber that narrows and lowers – face winter setting sun. 400 in Ireland (100 in Burren, Co. Clare, Ireland) Early Bronz Age, after 2000BC

Mounds, Carins & Barrows; Circular mounds; various sizes thru varying ages; usually burial mounds
Ringfords 30-40K, most numerous; Neolithic to Mediaeval. Circular 25M to 50m in diameter; some oval or D shaped. “Rath” very common in Irish townland names.
Stone Forts. When the bank is a stone wall, then they are stone forts. Many have steps.
Hillforts and Promontory Forts – forts constructed on hills. Usually Iron Age. Often became defense strongholds.
Stone Circles, mostly mid-Ulster and Cork/Kerry, also elsewhere; 180 in Ireland; Cork/Kerry best ones 4 to 17 m in diameter and p to 17 stones. Usually combined w/ alignments and burial areas; appear to be for rituals. Astronomical theories discredited
Standing Stones. Widespread. Varying height, max 5m. probably multi purpose – phallic; some have male and female pairs.
Ogham Stones; old writing mostly Cork, Kerry, Waterford.
Holed Stones; small number of stones have holes perforated through them.; unclear as to purpose but connected to folklore re; fertility, childbirth, love making. Hands clasped through holes to seal love bargains.
Petroglyphs, contain concentric rings, spiral and circles. Believed to be for ritual magical purposes. Associated w/ Bronze Age folks.

*Buriel Tombs – Newgrange – pilgrimage aspect. While the astronomical significance of many of the sites has been discounted (at least as anything more than rudimentary astronomy), Newgrange appears to be an exception....