Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in the NE centre of a cashel (CL010-095001-), in an area of rough pasture and sparse hazel. Described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 38-9) as a well-preserved wedge tomb (L c. 2.8m; Wth at SW 1.35m, narrowing to 1.2m at NE; H at SW 1.3m, sloping to 1m at NE) with intact capstone embedded in the centre of an irregular mound (11m E-W; 8.5m N–S; H c. 1.1m), the SW edge of which was disturbed by a later wall. Several set stones near the edge of the mound (particularly a group at the NE) were thought to possibly be remains of kerbing. The tomb was orientated NE-SW. Each of its sides were made of a single limestone slab set on its long edge. The SE sidestone (L 4m; H 1.35m at SW, sloping to 1.2m at NE; T 0.15-0.3m) had a straight top edge (L 3.6m) with traces of dressing. The NW sidestone (L 2.8m; H 1.35m at SW, sloping to 1.25m at NE; T 0.15-0.3m) is also dressed along its top edge. Both ends of this slab are broken at either end at ground level (extant L 2.3m), and there is a gap (0.7m) between this sidestone and the backstone of the tomb at the NE. Extending 0.3m beyond the backstone and in line with the NW sidestone was an upright stone (H 1.1m; L 0.5m; T 0.1m) with its SW edge fractured; this was thought to probably be the broken NE end of the NW sidestone, forced out of position, as it fitted closely with the backstone and capstone. To the SW was a very low colinear set stone (L 0.4m), and just to the NW of this was another stone (L 0.35m; H 0.35m; T 0.1m) following the same NE-SW orientation. These stones were thought to be either part of the NW sidestone or packing stones. An E-W orientated set stone (L 0.8m; H 0.6m; T 0.1m) just to the W was suggested to be a form of buttress. The backstone (L 1.2m; H 1.25m; T 0.12m) was orientated NNW-SSE, with its top and SSE edges made straight by flaking. Midway down the NNW edge is an opening (H 0.45m; Wth 0.25m) with flaked edges which was considered to possibly be intentional. The irregular capstone (L 3.55m; Wth 2.3m; T 0.15m) rested on the sidestones and backstone.

Set on edge 0.75m to the NE of the chamber and perpendicular to its main axis was a slab (L 2m; H 1.4m; T 0.12m) with faint traces of dressing on its top edge. Westropp (e.g. 1898, 357) viewed this as part of another small chamber. De Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 38) interpreted it as more likely part of the tomb’s outer-walling. A prostrate slab (L 1.5m) lay 1m to the NE. Three outer-walling stones ran generally parallel to the NW side of the chamber: a SW stone (L 0.8m; H 0.2m; T 0.1m) with its top apparently broken, a middle stone (H 1.55m; L 0.8-1.2m; T 0.1-0.2m) with top and NE edges probably dressed, and a probably displaced NE stone (L 1.35m; H 0.7m; T 0.1m), orientated N-S and leaning to the E. A flat-lying slab (L 1.1m) was found just W of the SW stone on this side. On the SE side of the chamber stood one outer-walling stone (L 1.2m; H 0.3m; T 0.12m), with a NW-SE orientated set slab (L 1.1m; 0.7m; T 0.1m) leaning against its SW edge. Another set slab (L 0.7m; H 0.45m; T 0.1m) situated 2.65m to the SW and incorporated in a later wall was thought to possibly also be part of the tomb’s SE outer-walling. (Westropp (1898, 357) seems to have interpreted the NW and SE outer-walling as ‘small triangular’ cists.) Two upstanding ‘frontal outer-walling’ stones were noted to the SW of the chamber: a tall stone (H 2m; L 1.45m; T 0.2-0.25m) with dressed top edge, orientated NW-SE, and a longer set slab (L 2.1m; H 0.7m; T 0.1m) just to the NW and orientated NNW-SSE.

The following items have been uploaded:
CL010-095002-_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)
CL010-095002-_01.jpg View of tomb from NE
CL010-095002-_02.jpg Another view from NE (further back)
CL010-095002-_03.jpg View from SE
CL010-095002-_04.jpg View from SW (close up)
CL010-095002-_05.jpg Another view from SW

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 27 June 2023

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