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Ballymena Cairn is a Bronze Age burial monument situated on bedrock composed of Palaeogene extrusive rocks, mafic lava and tuff that form part of Northern Ireland's distinctive volcanic geology. The cairn lies in the townland of Ballymena, where these ancient volcanic deposits provide a substantial stone-rich foundation typical of the region's upland areas. Built during the Bronze Age, the monument represents a funerary or ceremonial structure consistent with the burial practices of Ireland's prehistoric communities between approximately 2000 and 500 BC.
The cairn is protected as a scheduled monument under reference 2260 by the Historic Environment Division, recognising its archaeological and historical significance. Such Bronze Age cairns across Northern Ireland commonly served as communal or elite burial sites, often constructed from stone gathered from the immediate landscape. The monument's survival on this volcanic bedrock reflects the enduring nature of Bronze Age engineering and the value later communities placed on these burial grounds.
Today, the cairn remains an important element of Ballymena's archaeological heritage, contributing to our understanding of Bronze Age settlement and burial practices in the region. Its protection ensures that this tangible connection to the area's prehistoric past is preserved for future study and appreciation.
Cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 2260. View the official record →
Ballymena Cairn is a Bronze Age burial monument situated on bedrock composed of Palaeogene extrusive rocks, mafic lava and tuff that form part of Northern Ireland's distinctive volcanic geology. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 2260.
Cairn dates from the bronze age period, and is classified as a cairn. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Cairn is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 2260.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Counterscarp rath (6.4 km), Ancient field system, including rath & 2 round cairns (c.f. 038 (6.8 km), Ancient field system, including rath & 2 round cairns (c.f. 038 (6.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Cairn's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Cairn stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.