Craigs Dolmen (also known as the Broad Stone) is situated three miles north of Rasharkin, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, close to a minor road, at a height of 200m on the Long Mountain.[1] Craigs Dolmen passage tomb is a State Care Historic Monument in the townland of Craigs, in Borough of Ballymoney, at grid ref: C9740 1729.[2]
It features a big capstone on seven upright stones and [3] is wrongly assumed to be a dolmen, actually being a Passage tomb.[4] Lightning broke the capstone in 1976. It was restored in 1985, and excavation revealed that the chamber was the remnants of a passage tomb at the time. It was most likely erected before 2000 BC, although it was re-used for burial throughout the Bronze Age.[5]
The large capstone over the entrance and the first chamber of this 3-chambered tomb was re-erected using an upright stone at the rear which probably was not an original feature. The almost semicircular forecourt faces south-east. The Broad Stone was only a popular place for meetings and assemblies.[1]
On the other side of the road and 800m south-west is a small passage tomb. Seven close, tall uprights support a flat capstone measuring 210x160cm. On the south-west side, two fallen stones may be the remains of a short passage. No cairn survives.[1]