Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

At the top of a small hillock in a depression, in hazel and briars. Named ‘Cromlech’ on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 34) as a well-preserved and fine wedge tomb embedded in the centre of a low suboval mound (13m E-W; 5-9m N–S; H c. 0.7m). The tomb was oriented E-W, and its chamber (int. dims. L 3.3m; Wth at W 2.1m, narrowing to 1.5m at E; H at W 1.55m, sloping to 1.05m at E) comprised single large sidestones at the N (L 3.65m; 1.4m H at W; 0.75m H at E; T 0.15-0.2m) and S (L 4.3m; 1.35m H at W, 0.55m H at E; T 0.3m), set upright on their long edges. Both slabs have straight, dressed top edges which slope evenly to the E. A transverse slab (L 1.45m; H 1.05m; T 0.1-0.15m) was set 0.6m from the E end of the sidestones; the E side of its straight top edge was also dressed (L 0.85m). There were two possibly intentional apertures along the edges of this slab, with chipping on the E face of their edges (see also Leask and Price 1935-37, 83). One possible opening at the S top corner was broken resulting in a jagged sloping edge (L 0.6m). The N edge of the slab had a curving indent (H 0.6m; max. Wth 0.2m) with a smooth, worn edge near the bottom and possible flaking near the top on its W face; the rest of the edge was jagged. The capstone (original L c. 4.3m) was broken. Its larger portion (L 3.3m; Wth 2.7m at W; Wth 1.7m at E; T 0.2m) still rested on the sidestones and transverse slab, while a smaller fragment (L 1.65m E-W; Wth 1.75m N-S; T 0.15-0.2m) lay fallen to the W, leaning against the N sidestone. At the W end of the sidestones were several disturbed, prostrate slabs: one (L 1.1m; Wth 0.65m) on the S and three (av. L 0.65m) on the N. These may have been remains of an entrance lining for the tomb chamber.

There appeared to be vestiges of an outer wall around the chamber at N, E and S, comprising slabs set parallel to the chamber sides. On the S was a slab (L 1.1m; H 0.35m; T 0.12m) standing 0.55m from the chamber, with two disturbed stones (L 0.55-1.05m; H 0.5m; T 0.1m) to its E. The N arc of the possible outer wall was represented by a N-leaning slab (L 1.4m; H 0.6m; T 0.1m), 0.65m from the chamber, with three possibly disturbed smaller stones (av. L 0.55m; H 0.55-0.9m) to its W. Finally, set 2m to the E of the chamber was a large slab (L 1.5m; H 1m; T 0.1m) oriented N-S and leaning to the W, with two loose stones (L 0.5m) resting against its W face.

Physically linking the E end of the main chamber and the N edge of the E outer wall-slab was a line of three small upright stones. The westernmost of these stones (L 0.35m; H 0.75m; T 0.1m) was set under the capstone; the other two (L 0.5-0.6m; H 0.2-0.4m; T 0.1m) were loose and perhaps not original. De Valera and Ó Nualláin (ibid.) noted that this line of stones may have been the remnants of a second chamber, abutting the E end of the main chamber although they also noted that the evidence was scant and ambiguous; Westropp (1898, 256; 1906-07, 461) also offered this interpretation.

An inspection of the tomb in 1997 found it to be unaltered in the interim, apart from further overgrowth of hazel and briars, especially on the E side. A cashel (CL009-111----) lies c. 116m to the SW.

The following item has been uploaded:
CL009-112001-_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: 21 June 2022

References

Westropp, T.J. 1898 Prehistoric remains in the Burren, County Clare (Carran and Kilcorney). The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 28, 352-66.

De Valera and Ó Nualláin 1961 Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland, vol. i, County Clare. Dublin. Stationery Office.

Westropp, T.J. 1907 The cists, dolmens, and pillars of the western half of the county of Clare. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26C, 447-72.