D Irl 25092 E; Schull, long evening shadow from Altar Stone

Altar Wedge Tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located outside the village of Schull, in County Cork, on a cliffedge near Toormore Bay.

Wedge tombs of this kind were built in Ireland in the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age, c. 2500–2000 BC. Cremated burials took place in 2000 BC and pit burials c. 1200 BC. Around AD 200 a pit was dug and filled in with fish, shellfish and cetacean bones, presumably as a ritual practice.

Despite the name, there is no evidence that the "altar" was ever used for sacrifice. It was used as a Mass rock in the 18th century AD. A holy well stood across the road.

Material found included cremated human adult bones, a tooth, worked flint, charcoal, periwinkles, fish bones and limpets.

The entrance was aligned ENE–WSW, possibly with Mizen Peak and maybe to catch the setting sun at Samhain (1 November).

A roof-stone 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) long, is still above the east end, and a second rests against the westerly stones at either side of the gallery. (Source; Wikipedia)

One can only guess at what was the original purpose or significance of the impressive wedge tomb. Fortunately, the area around it has not been spoiled. So one can sit here and communicate with earlier inhabitants in perfect peace. One might even be treated to an eternal “vision”!