Ballinran Court Tomb

Ballinran Court Tomb is situated close to Killowen, County Down, Northern Ireland, on the shore of Carlingford Lough [1]. The site was excavated in April and May 1976 in preparation for a road widening project [1]. The excavation revealed the remains of a large court tomb, despite the absence of visible surface features [1]. By the late 19th century, the monument had largely been destroyed, though its location remained accurately marked on subsequent maps [1]. The excavation uncovered a burial gallery consisting of five or six segments, aligned approximately north–south, with the forecourt facing the Mourne Mountains [1]. The gallery featured stone sockets for orthostats, some of which contained packing stones or fragments of the original stones [1]. No trace of burial deposits was found in situ, although some cremated, presumably human, bone and three primary flint flakes were found [1]. A 'nest' of winkle shells were found placed in a pit as a secondary deposit in the grave [1].