Craigs Dolmen

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title: "Craigs Dolmen" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["archaeological-sites-in-county-antrim", "megalithic-monuments-in-ireland", "state-care-monuments-of-northern-ireland"] description: "Megalithic tomb in County Antrim, Northern Ireland" topic_path: "philosophy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craigs_Dolmen" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Megalithic tomb in County Antrim, Northern Ireland ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/The_Broad_Stone,_Parish_of_Finvoy,County_of_Antrim,1834(IA_jstor-30004345)(cropped).jpg" caption="The ''Broad Stone'', Parish of Finvoy, County of Antrim, [[Dublin Penny Journal]], 1834"] ::

Craigs Dolmen (also known as the Broad Stone) is a megalithic tomb in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is 5 mi south of Ballymoney, off Finvoy Road, at a height of 200m on the Long Mountain. Craigs Dolmen passage tomb is a State Care Historic Monument in the townland of Craigs, in Borough of Ballymoney. Its grid reference is C9740 1729.

Features

It features a big capstone on seven upright stones and is wrongly assumed to be a dolmen, actually being a passage tomb. Lightning broke the capstone in 1976. It was restored in 1985, and excavation revealed that the chamber was the remnants of a passage tomb at the time. It was most likely erected before 2000 BC, although it was re-used for burial throughout the Bronze Age.

The large capstone over the entrance and the first chamber of this 3-chambered tomb was re-erected using an upright stone at the rear which probably was not an original feature. The almost semicircular forecourt faces south-east. The Broad Stone was only a popular place for meetings and assemblies.

Nearby site

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/The_smaller_portal_tomb_north_of_Craigs,_Co._Antrim.jpg" caption="The smaller dolmen or portal tomb north of Craigs, Co. Antrim"] ::

On the other side of the road and 800m south-west is a small passage tomb. Seven close, tall uprights support a flat capstone measuring 210x160cm. On the south-west side, two fallen stones may be the remains of a short passage. No cairn survives.

References

References

1. Weir, A. (1980). "Early Ireland. A Field Guide". Blackstaff Press.
2. "Craigs Dolmen". Environment and Heritage Service NI - State Care Historic Monuments.
3. "Craigs Dolmen, Rasharkin". The Causeway Coast and Glens.
4. "Craigs Dolmen". Ballymoney Borough Council - Heritage and Environment.
5. (October 2010). "Craigs Dolmen". Irish Antiquities.

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