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Neanderthal survival story revealed in Jersey caves
By Becky Evans
Digging For Britain
New investigations at an iconic cave site on the Channel Island of Jersey have led archaeologists to believe the Neanderthals have been widely under-estimated.
Neanderthals survived in Europe through a number of ice ages and died out only about 30,000 years ago.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14677434
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Two court tombs, back to back but 5 metres apart, unlike Aghanaglack, a dual court tomb with only a stone separating the galleries. This place is all about place. Yes there's the tombs, the northern one of which is like no other, but it's where they're at is where it's at.
From Manorhamilton, a 5 minute drive to a gate, and a further minute along a track at the side of some forestry and it all opens up. The track remains drivable past the tombs but I parked just before and above them. Wild Irish peatland, in places eroded down to the limestone pavement, and views for miles all around. Benbo to the west is dominant, north-west into Sligo you can see Truskmore and Tievebaun. The plateau that you're on rises to the south and it looks bleak in that direction forever.
I had to come here after reading Anthony Weir's description of the tombs. It was their situation that captivated me however. The wrecks of both tombs take patience to work out. Weir says 2 chambers in the main gallery with 6 subsidiary chambers set into the cairn at the back of the northern tomb.
The southern tomb is less complex with a 2-chambered gallery. Both tombs have some remains of their courts.
I spent most of my time here just wandering about the area, over towards the old farmhouse, marvelling at the formations of the limestone, parts of which are crowned with half a metre of peat. At the end of it all I didn't want to leave. A great spot to camp out in I'd say, though pegging the tent down might be difficult in this terrain. Wonderful place.
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A stone pair, looking like a classic male/female combination, the male of which is now falling over like some aul-fella, held up by a small group of trees. The female is a blocky obelisk. I couldn't get closer due to the river but both stones are close to 2 metres high.
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