Poulnabrone Dolmen

Poulnabrone Dolmen is a Neolithic portal tomb in the Burren, County Clare, and the oldest dated megalithic monument in Ireland. Its massive capstone, 13 feet long, rests on two sets of upright portal stones over a tapering chamber. Excavations by archaeologist Ann Lynch (1986-1988) uncovered remains of 33 individuals along with a stone axe, bone jewellery, quartz crystals, and weapons, with radiocarbon dating indicating continuous use from 3800-3200 BC. In 2020, genomic analysis of an infant buried at the site revealed the earliest known incidence of Down syndrome.