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Court tomb, Derry is a Neolithic megalithic monument protected as a scheduled historic monument by the Historic Environment Division of Northern Ireland. Dating to the fourth millennium BC, it represents the chambered tomb tradition characteristic of the Irish Neolithic period, designed as a communal burial place for the dead of a settled farming community.
The tomb is constructed on bedrock of the Southern Highland Group, formed during the Middle Cambrian period and comprising psammite and pelite deposits. This solid geological foundation provided the base for the megalithic structure, while the surrounding landscape would have offered stone suitable for the monument's construction. The site's position reflects the practical considerations of Neolithic builders in selecting elevated or well-drained locations for their ceremonial and funerary structures.
Court tombs are distinguished by their distinctive forecourt or courtyard area fronting the burial chamber, from which this monument type takes its name. These monuments typically contained multiple burial chambers accessed through narrow passages, and would have served as focal points for ritual and social gathering in their communities. The site remains an important testimony to early farming settlement and burial practices in Northern Ireland.
Court tomb is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 11950. View the official record →
Court tomb, Derry is a Neolithic megalithic monument protected as a scheduled historic monument by the Historic Environment Division of Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 11950.
Court 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.
Court 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 11950.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Barrow (0.8 km), Giant's grave. wedge tomb (2.3 km), High cross. cross (3.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Court 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.
Court tomb stands on Southern Highland Group, bedrock that formed in the Middle Cambrian. The rock here is psammite and pelite.