Irish Private Tours - The Burren

The Burren in County Clare is a unique landscape of vast limestone pavements known as clints, separated by deep vertical fissures called grikes. The region is renowned for its limestone loving flora, including foxgloves, and for its remarkable diversity of orchids. Each spring, the first to flower are the early purple orchid and the dense flowered orchid. Other species found here include the fly orchid, bee orchid and butterfly orchid.

Poulnabrone Dolmen is a portal tomb in the Burren, County Clare, built more than 5,000 years ago by some of Ireland's earliest farming communities. Excavations by Dr Ann Lynch in the 1980s, carried out to conserve a cracked supporting stone, recovered the remains of at least 36 people from the burial chamber, mainly dating from around 3850 to 3100 BC. Finds included a polished stone axe, chert arrowheads, pottery fragments, beads and pins. Standing above the limestone pavement on a low rise in the landscape, the dolmen is one of Ireland's best-known Neolithic monuments.

Suggested Private Burren Day Tour:

• Pick up from your accommodation in the Dublin area.
• The iconic Poulnabrone dolmen (photo above) in the heart of the Burren.
• The Burren Perfumery
• The picturesque coastal village of Doolin
• The world famous Cliffs of Moher with stunning views of the Atlantic Coast.
• A drive along the Galway Bay part of the Wild Atlantic Way.
• Return to your accommodation in Dublin.

Poulnabrone Dolmen

A Neolithic Tomb in the Burren

Poulnabrone Dolmen is one of Ireland's best-known prehistoric monuments. Standing above the limestone pavement of the Burren, this portal tomb was built by some of Ireland's earliest farming communities more than 5,000 years ago.

The monument was excavated by archaeologist Dr Ann Lynch during the 1980s after serious cracks were discovered in one of its large supporting stones. Conservation work was needed to prevent the possible collapse of the tomb, but the excavation also produced important new evidence about Neolithic Ireland.

The Beginning of Farming in Ireland

The Neolithic Period, or New Stone Age, began in Ireland around 3900 BC. Farming was introduced and communities began building large stone monuments for their dead.

Poulnabrone stands on a low rise in the Burren landscape, where its tall portal stones and massive capstone create a striking landmark.

Burials at Poulnabrone

Archaeologists recovered the remains of at least 36 people from the burial chamber. These included 19 adults and 17 children, ranging from unborn babies and newborn infants to older adults.

Most of the remains date from around 3850 to 3100 BC, suggesting that Poulnabrone was used as a burial place for perhaps 700 years. Research by Dr Rick Schulting indicates that burials may have taken place intermittently, possibly with one person placed in the tomb every generation.

How the Dead Were Treated

The remains were mostly incomplete and disarticulated rather than complete skeletons. There was evidence of both cremation and unburnt remains, suggesting that different rituals were used before the bones were finally placed in the tomb.

A polished stone axe, chert arrowheads, pottery fragments, beads and pins were also discovered during the excavation.

The People Behind the Bones

One woman buried at Poulnabrone appears to have lived into her late fifties. Her remains provide a rare glimpse of an older member of a Neolithic community and raise interesting questions about her place within the group.

There was also evidence of violence. The tip of a stone arrowhead was found embedded in the hip bone of an adult male. As the bone showed no signs of healing, the injury occurred close to the time of his death.

A Glimpse into Neolithic Ireland

Poulnabrone is more than an impressive ancient monument. The discoveries made during its excavation reveal something of the people who lived, died and buried their dead in the Burren more than 5,000 years ago. Their remains provide a rare and very human glimpse into life in Neolithic Ireland.

Further reading

Poulnabrone: An Early Neolithic Portal Tomb in Ireland by Dr. Ann Lynch.

Death in Irish Prehistory by Gabriel Cooney