PREHISTORIC · CAIRN

Ring cairn

Ballymena, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 2262
Period
PREHISTORIC
Site type
CAIRN
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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

Overview

History & significance

Ring cairn is a prehistoric funerary monument located near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The site consists of a circular arrangement of stones characteristic of ring cairn construction, a monument type that appears in the archaeological record of Bronze Age Ireland and Britain. Ring cairns typically functioned as ceremonial or burial centres within prehistoric communities, though their precise ritual significance remains subject to scholarly interpretation. The monument represents an important example of Bronze Age burial practice in the north of Ireland and contributes to understanding of prehistoric settlement patterns and funerary traditions in the region.

Ring cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 2262. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Ring cairn?

Ring cairn is a prehistoric funerary monument located near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 2262.

What period does Ring cairn date from?

Ring cairn dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a cairn. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Ring cairn?

Ring 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 2262.

What other scheduled monuments are near Ring cairn?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Counterscarp rath (5.4 km), Ancient field system, including rath & 2 round cairns (c.f. 038 (6.5 km), Grahamstown. mound (6.8 km).

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