Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb
Poulbaun (Burren By.), County Clare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Poulbaun (Burren By.)
- County
- Clare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.07202, -9.10887
- SMR number
- CL005-160027-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
4 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1753 map "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1753 · Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1790 · Composite: Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1869 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Ireland 16 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
In elevated rocky pasture, on an E-facing slope near the E edge of a large limestone plateau, with a sheer precipice c. 170m to the E, and within an extensive multiperiod field system (CL005-160001-). Not shown on the 1839 or 1916 OS 6-inch maps. Described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 9-10) as a ‘wedge-shaped gallery grave’. The following details are from that survey.
A wedge tomb orientated N-S comprising the remains of two large side sidestones, a backstone and a broken doorstone defining a rectangular chamber (L c. 3.2m; Wth c. 1.6m) set within a low mound (c. 7.5m N-S; c. 5.5m E-W). The E sidestone consists of two large fragments of the same slab (L 4.3m). The S fragment is in-situ (L 2.12m; H 1.15-1.35m). Its top edge slopes down to the N and is dressed. The N fragment has collapsed. The W side of the chamber is composed of two fragments of stone, representing the remains of a single cracked slab, the N fragment (L 2.3m; H 1.1m; T 0.1m) being slightly larger than the S fragment (L 1.65m; H 0.3m; T 0.1m). The top edges of both stones are badly broken. The backstone (L 1.5m; H 1.2m; T 0.2m) is at the N end of the tomb. Its top and W edges are dressed. The S end of the chamber is defined by two low stones that taken together represent part of a broken doorstone (L 1.1m; H 0.12m; T 0.08m). The chamber is parallel sided, being higher at the S (H 1.35m) and lower towards the N (H 1.2m). Three low stones (H 0.05m) set beyond the S end of the E sidestone may be packing or the remains of outer walling. Several partly concealed slabs (max. dims. L 1m; Wth 0.75m) lie outside the chamber and may be remnants of the capstone.
Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell
Date of upload: 30 September 2025
See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961).
Date of upload: 24 December 2011
References
de Valera, R. and Ó Nualláin, S. 1961 Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland, vol. 1: County Clare. Dublin. Stationery Office.
Nearby in the register
- Ringfort - cashelunder 1 mi
- Caveunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - cashelunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.