Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

On a gentle SW-facing slope in pasture in a clearing in hazel woodland, with wide views from S to W, and within a multiperiod field system (CL016-020028-). Indicated and labelled ‘Dermot & Grania’s Bed’ on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 42-3; link below) as a largely intact wedge tomb (L c. 4.5m; Wth at W 2.1m, narrowing to 1.1m at E; H at W 1.6m, dropping to 1.45m at E) that was partly embedded in an elongated suboval mound (12m E-W; 8m N-S; H 0.7m), the edges of which were difficult to define at N and E. Of the kerbing noted by Westropp (1913, 257) that girded the mound, only one possible kerbstone (L 0.75m; H 0.2m) was identified at its SW edge. A field wall, running N-S, crossed the E end of the chamber.

Both sides of the chamber, which was trapezoidal in plan and orientated WSW-ENE, comprised a massive limestone slab standing on its long edge. The S sidestone (L 5.05m; H at W 1.65m; H at E 1.25m; T 0.15-0.25m) was intact but had a central vertical crack. Its straight top edge was hammer dressed and sloped evenly from W to E. Westropp (ibid.) noted that a small hole was pierced through it. The N sidestone (L c. 4.55m) was broken and part of its central section was missing. The two upstanding portions included one to the W (L 0.9m; H 1.65m; T 0.1-0.2m) and one to the E (L 2.5m; H 1.5m; T 0.1-0.25m), with the base (L 0.35m; H 0.15m; T 0.12m) of the broken section in between them. The top edge of E stone was also hammer dressed. The E end of the tomb was open but what appeared to be a displaced backstone (L 1.75m; H 1m; T 0.12m) was situated at the E end of the N sidestone and leaned to the S. Parts of the edges of this stone appeared to be hammer dressed and the top W corner was chipped leaving a gap (L 0.6m; H 0.8m) with a curved edge. The entrance opened to the W and near the W end of the N sidestone, an upright stone (L 0.7m; H 0.35m; T 0.15m), oriented NE-SW, may have been part of an entry feature. The enormous capstone (L 5.5m; Wth at W 2.85m, narrowing to 2.35m at E; T 0.2-0.3m) was broken in two, with a piece missing to the N of a central fracture. It rested on the sidestones and the top it was covered by a low pile of earth and stone.

Outer walling was visible to the S and N of the sidestones and also to the W of the entrance. The surviving portion of the outer S wall (min. L 3.9m) comprised three in situ upright slabs (L 0.35-0.85m; H 0.05-0.15m; T 0.05-0.1m) with a gap (L 1.6m) between the W and central slabs. A fourth slab (L 0.5m; H 0.7m; T 0.2m) set in the N-S field boundary, 0.5m to E, was also though to be part of this wall. Three slabs of the outer N wall (L c. 5.5m) also survived in situ and comprised a slab (L 1.65m; erect H 1.8; T 0.12-0.2m) leaning over at the W end of the tomb, another slab (L 0.9m; H 0.5m; T 0.1m) set 1.45m to its E and a third slab (L 1.25m; H 0.55m; T 0.1-0.15m) at the E end of the tomb. A slab (L 0.85m; H 0.2m; T 0.1m) situated 0.7m further to the E may also have been related to this wall. A slab (L 1.2m; H 0.3m; T 0.15m) between this wall and the N sidestone may have indicated a doubling of this outer walling. Outside the entrance, four slabs (L 0.5-1.2m; H 0.1-0.4m; T 0.1-0.2m) set upright and oriented NNW-SSE appeared to be the remains of a ‘frontal outer-walling’ (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1961, 42). An inspection of the tomb in 1997 found it to be unaltered in the interim. There are two other wedge tombs in the vicinity: CL009-162---- lies c. 30m to N and CL009-059093- lies c. 13m to the NE.

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)

The following image has been uploaded: CL009-059094-_01.jpg View of tomb from W from Westropp (1913, 257, Fig. 11)

Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 2 June 2022

References

Westropp, T.J. 1913 Prehistoric remains (forts and dolmens) in the Corofin district, Co. Clare (no. 11). Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries 43, 232-60.

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