ballymacdermot court tomb

This court-tomb is unusual in having a forecourt forming almost three-quarters of a circle, with the largest stones near the end of the 'horns'. The court gave access to a now roofless three-chambered burial gallery, of which that next the entrance was not used for burials. Excavations in 1962 showed the end-chamber to have been undisturbed and to contain cremated bone as well as a curious dark brown layer which has been encountered in other ulster court-tomb excavations. Unexpectedly, these chambers were originally covered, not - as is usual - by flat capstones, but by a corbelled roof, of which traces still survive. The artefacts found included flints and Neolithic pottery.