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In 2010 a small group of local
neighbours came together and set
up a committee with the sole aim Archaeology & History
of cleaning away the overgrowth of
vegetation and generally to make
the area more accessible to anybody
who wanted to or who had to visit. Neolithic Rock Art
(c. 4000-2400 BC)
What started off as a small project
has become a much bigger project As you wander through this ancient
graveyard you will see Neolithic
made possible by the efforts of so
many people who have been bitten rock art, the ruins of a stone
by the beauty, heritage and history church, a bullaun stone and two
of the graveyard. This booklet is 1960 Commemoration at Ballinglen Bridge stone crosses, nestled between
(Photo: Patrick Walsh)
our attempt to preserve by record headstones. Beyond the confines of
the graveyard a geophysical survey
what we have uncovered so far and
hope that it will highlight the unique completed in 2014 illustrates how
reservoir of information that Preban much archaeology is yet uncovered
graveyard holds. in the fields surrounding the
graveyard. The earliest headstone
Rock Art 1. Note the faint lightly pecked dates back as far as 1783. Although
We are not the first group to have circles with pock marks in the centre.
held commemorations at Preban there are many graves that just
graveyard which illustrates how contain a simple stone as a grave-
important preserving history is to our marker, other graves were marked
community. In the 1960’s thousands by finely sculpted headstones. The
following paragraphs highlight the
gathered to watch the unveiling of
a plaque at Ballinglen Bridge to the archaeology you will encounter as
Lacey Brothers buried in Preban you wander through the graveyard.
graveyard by the Taoiseach Sean
Lemass. In 1998 President Mary Yoemen of 1798 re-enactment in 1960 Rock Art 2. Although this schist flagstone The earliest archaeology you will
encounter at Preban is in the
McAleese unveiled a memorial seat (Photo: Patrick Walsh) is weathered and may have removed some
celebrating the bi-centenary of the decoration there are the remains of 14 cup- form of Neolithic Rock Art which
1798 Rising. marks in total on the stone. may date back to the between
4000-2400 BC. There are three
This booklet follows on from our decorated stones in the graveyard
all appear to have been re-used as
initial project in 2014 for Heritage
Week where we screened a two- headstones. Chris Corlett suggests
part documentary in the Courthouse that they may have been chosen
Arts Centre in Tinahely and contains by people who could not afford
further layers of information which a headstone carved by a stone
mason or perhaps their ancient
we have gleaned from this open-
air museum and art gallery that is 1998 Commemoration at Ballinglen Bridge Rock Art 3. This thin schist stone which is association and decoration made
Preban Graveyard. (Photo: Patrick Walsh) also weathered contains 23 cup-marks on them attractive as grave markers.
one side of its face only.
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