Megalithic tomb - passage tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

This is a National Monument in State care (no. 518). Carn G in the Carrowkeel-Kesh Corann passage tomb cemetery. High on the N slope of Barrnabinnia, one of the bog-grown N-S aligned ridges forming the Bricklieve Mountains. A possible passage tomb (SL040-088----) lies c. 40m to NW and a passage tomb (SL040-09001-) c. 50m to S. A circular cairn (diam. 18-20m; H 3m) covers a well-preserved cruciform passage tomb opening to the NW. The tomb (L 5m) consists of a passage (L 2m; Wth c. 1m) leading to a chamber (L 1.7m; Wth 1.9m; H 2.3m) opening off which there are two opposed side-chambers, one to the right or W (L 0.85m; Wth 0.95m; H 1.3m), another to the left or E (L 0.85m; Wth 1.1m; H 1.4m) and an endchamber (L 1m; Wth 1m; H 1.3m). The tomb is constructed of tall, generally pillar-like uprights and these support a series of lintels and oversailing corbels capped by a large flat slab above the main chamber. Sillstones divide the passage into two compartments and are in place at the front of the two side-chambers and endchamber. Investigation of the tomb in 1911 (Macalister, Armstrong and Praeger 1912, 327-8, 334-5) showed that large flat slabs (some of which are still visible) had been laid as floorstones along the passage and in the chambers. The tomb contained a considerable quantity of burnt bone, some pottery fragments, stone pendants, beads and balls. (Ó Nualláin 1989, 83)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005).

See linked documents with details from Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume V. County Sligo. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1989) together with plans and sections of the monument (surveyed 1983).

Date of upload: 27 May 2013