Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

At the W edge of a W-sloping limestone pavement, with a hazel wood to the W. Within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-059001-). Indicated and labelled ‘Cromlech’ on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 31-2; see attachment) as a very disturbed wedge tomb (est. L 2.8m), oriented E-W and embedded in the centre of a mound. Only the N sidestone of the tomb was intact, and the extent of the mound could not be traced. The N sidestone was an upright limestone slab (L 2.85m; H at W 1.37m; H at E 0.8m; T 0.1-0.2m) set on its long edge. The straight top edge was dressed, sloping down evenly from W to E. The E and W edges were almost vertical. A block (L 0.85m; H 0.3m; T 0.3m) to the N of the sidestone at its E end was considered a possible packing-stone. To the S of the sidestone (1.2m away) lay the fallen capstone (L 3.2m; Wth at W 1.7m; Wth at E 1.25m; T 0.12m), oriented E-W. The W to E slope of the top edge of the N sidestone and greater width of the capstone at the W indicated that—as is typical among wedge tombs—the chamber was wider and higher at the W.

The capstone overlay several slab fragments, including two large pieces (each L 1.6m; Wth 1-1.1m; T 0.1m) which may have been part of the displaced S sidestone. The S edge of the E fragment was straight (L 1.15m) and dressed, suggesting that it was part of the S sidestone’s top edge. Between the N sidestone and S sidestone fragments lay two slabs of unclear function. To the W of these were two small upright slabs (L 0.3-0.4m; H 0.2m), aligned N-S, which may have formed part of the W end of the tomb. A stone (L 0.5m; H 0.2m; T 0.1m) standing on edge 1m to the S of the capstone may have been part of the outer wall of the tomb.

An inspection in 1997 found the tomb to be unaltered, although with more briars growing up around it. A possible megalithic structure (CL009-059068-) lies c. 202m to the N.

The following item has been uploaded:
CL009-059069-_01.pdf Details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961)

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 30 March 2022

References

de Valera, R. and Ó Nualláin, S. 1961 Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland, vol. 1: County Clare. Dublin. Stationery Office.