NEOLITHIC · MEGALITHIC TOMB

Portal tomb

Omagh, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 15008
Period
NEOLITHIC
Site type
MEGALITHIC TOMB
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)

Overview

History & significance

Portal tomb at Omagh, County Tyrone is a Neolithic megalithic monument of the portal dolmen type, dating to the fourth millennium BCE. The structure comprises a burial chamber formed by standing stones with a distinctive portal entrance defined by two substantial uprights, characteristic of portal tombs found across Ireland and Britain during the Neolithic period. Portal tombs served as communal burial places and represent significant investment in monumental construction by early agricultural communities. The Omagh example contributes to the broader archaeological understanding of Neolithic ritual practice and settlement patterns in the Ulster region during the early prehistoric period.

Portal tomb is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 15008. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Portal tomb?

Portal tomb at Omagh, County Tyrone is a Neolithic megalithic monument of the portal dolmen type, dating to the fourth millennium BCE. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 15008.

What period does Portal tomb date from?

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.

Who is responsible for protecting Portal tomb?

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 15008.

What other scheduled monuments are near Portal tomb?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Dunmisk fort. enclosure, monastic settlement, church & graveyard (site of) (4.7 km), Horned cairn. court tomb (4.9 km), Multiperiod burial mound - court tomb, 4 neolithic pit burials, 8 bronze age burials & rath (6.1 km).

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