Summary: Types and examples of dolmens
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Portal tombs are also known as dolmens. There are over 170 portal tomb sites in Ireland, mainly in the north of the country.
The standard shape is a tripod design of two large stones and a smaller one topped by a large roofstone. These roofstones are usually exceptionally large, some weighing as much as forty tonnes. Slabs placed against the chamber opening can seal it off completely. Some portal tombs are located at the end of long cairns. At Ticloy, Co Antrim the tomb has a shallow concave court joining the portal jambs. Others have small subsidiary chambers and often contain pottery and goods which are similar to those found in court tombs.
These tombs were usually built in lowland settings and close to mixed farming communities.
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