Megalithic tomb - passage tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

Shown as 'stone circle' on the OS 6 inch map (1913). Wood-Martin (1887-8, 256-7) describes the site as a slightly raised mound 'c. 57' N-S by 45' E-W '; 'formerly encircled with boulders'. He records that the site was traditionally called 'Coolcrave' and was said to be the burial place of those who died in a battle which took place nearby. The extant remains consist of a semi-circular level area, c. 18m N-S. defined on the NW-E-S by remnants of a ring of close-set boulders and incorporated into a curving field wall on the S-E and NE. The stones survive best in the NW-N where six to seven boulders occur in a curving line. In the S five close set boulders appear also to be in situ and a there are a few isolated stones protruding from the overgrowth on the E. The boulders have a maximum dimension of 0.50m-0.70m, and vary in height from 0.40m to 0.80m. The W half of the site has been obliterated and on this side the site is now bordered by a rough track immediately to the W from which the ground falls away sharply. (Bergh 1995, 219, 222)

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Date of upload: 8 October 2013

References

Wood-Martin, W.G. 1887-8 The rude stone monuments of Ireland, parts III to VIII. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 18, 50-94, 118-59, 254-99, 367-81.

Bergh, S. 1995 Landscape of the monuments. Stockholm. Bureau for Archaeological Excavation.