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Cloughananca (1) is a portal tomb, a Neolithic megalithic burial monument located in the Moyle district of Northern Ireland. The tomb sits upon Palaeogene extrusive rocks—a foundation of ancient mafic lava and tuff formed during volcanic activity in the early Tertiary period, roughly 66 to 23 million years ago. This underlying geology of darker, denser volcanic stone would have been available to the Neolithic builders who constructed the monument around 3500 to 3000 BCE.
Portal tombs are characterised by their distinctive entrance structure, formed by two large portal stones flanking a narrow passage that leads to a burial chamber. These monuments served as communal burial places and were often oriented to catch the rising sun at significant times of year. The form and positioning of such tombs reflect the sophisticated astronomical and architectural knowledge of their builders.
Cloughananca (1) is recorded in the Historic Environment Division's protected monuments register under reference 799, recognising its archaeological significance. The site contributes to understanding settlement patterns and funerary practices among early farming communities in the Moyle region, offering insights into Neolithic society and the Palaeogene landscape that shaped human activity in this part of Ireland.
Cloughananca (1). portal tomb is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 799. View the official record →
Cloughananca (1) is a portal tomb, a Neolithic megalithic burial monument located in the Moyle district of Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 799.
Cloughananca (1). portal tomb dates from the neolithic period, and is classified as a megalithic tomb. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Cloughananca (1). portal tomb 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 799.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Craigagh altar. craighagh altar and enclosure (5.6 km), Standing stone (5.8 km), Two standing stones (5.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Cloughananca (1). portal tomb'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.
Cloughananca (1). portal tomb stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.