Tyrone Ireland

The remains of the tumulus and rude stone grave at Knockmany, Co. Tyrone, is situated on a hill overlooking the River Blackwater. The tomb of Knockmany is traditionally associated with the burial place of Baine, who died in a.d. in, but the grave is considerably earlier than this. The tomb resembles a dolmen in form ; the stones of which it is composed are of red sandstone, or mill-stone grit. The monument was originally covered by a earn, now quite destroyed. The chamber was placed at the margin of the earn, the arrangement recalling that of an ordinary passage tomb. An interesting feature of the monument is the scribings to be found on some of the stones which compose the chamber. One of these markings is a human face, others take the form of cups and rings, while a few are of a curious zig-zag shape. Some have supposed that the decoration is ornamental in character ; but it probably contained some symbolical meaning.

There are some 30 decorated High Crosses in Ulster. Of these the fine monument at Arboe, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone (Hotels, Tyrone, Ireland), which is 18ft. in height and elaborately carved with panels depicting Biblical scenes, is remarkable

Posted on April 17th, 2008 under Antiquities. Tags: Antiquities, dolmen, grave, high crosses, monument, passage tomb, Tyrone. Comments: None