Megalithic tomb - passage tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument in state guardianship No. 317. Situated on the summit of Seefin Mountain. A circular cairn (diam. 24-6m; H 3m) defined by a contiguous kerb of large boulders partly removed at the E and W, covering a narrow lintelled passage (L 11m). The passage is orientated NE-SW, and opens into a rectangular corbelled chamber (dims. 4m x 1.5m) off which there are five recesses (two at each side and one at the end). Only the end and adjoining recesses are visible; the rest are buried under the collapsed cairn. There are two sidestones in the passage decorated with passage tomb art. Excavated in 1931 (Macalister 1932), it produced no evidence of burials or finds. (Herity 1974, 258; Rynne 1963, 85-6; Shee Twohig 1981, 222-3)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 17 December 2008

References

Shee Twohig, E. 1981 The Megalithic Art of Western Europe. Oxford, Clarendon Press

Rynne E. 1963b The decorated stones at Seefin. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 93, 85-6.

Macalister, R.A.S. 1932 A burial carn on Seefin Mountain, Co. Wicklow. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 62, 153-7.

Herity, M. 1974 Irish Passage Graves. Dublin. Irish University Press.