"Poll na mBrón," in Irish means "hole of sorrows." This portal tomb, or "Dolmen," is one of the most photographed megalithic monuments in Ireland, mainly due to its superb sculptured form and easy access from the road. The site was excavated in 1986 and produced the main body bones of one newborn baby, six juveniles, and 16-22 adults, only one of which lived beyond 40 years (the majority were under 30 when they died.) An analysis of all the bone fragments revealed a hard physical life and a coarse diet; it was further proved that the bones naturally decomposed elsewhere (by exposure or burial) and only then moved within the chamber at Poulnabrone. A number of grave goods were found in the tomb: a polished stone axe, two stone disc beads, a perforated bone pendant, part of a bone pin, two quartz crystals, flint and chert arrowheads and scrapers, and over 60 shards of coarse pottery. This probably involved a ritual and reveal an exact planning, but the purpose remains unknown.
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