Author: Burnham, Andy
Date: 2019-01-01
Publisher: Watkins Media
Rights: Watkins Media Limited 2018

THE OLD STONES OF IRELAND

A Field Guide to Megalithic and Other Prehistoric Sites

The Megalithic Portal

Edited by Andy Burnham

THE OLD STONES OF IRELAND

This ebook covers both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It could easily have been filled with sites from the Republic’s southwest alone, the counties of Cork and Kerry being famed for their wedge tombs and their stone circles (often in absolutely beautiful locations) that include Drombeg, Derreenataggart, Ardgroom, Shronebirrane, Uragh and many others. Otherwise, visitors tend to head for the cluster of sites around Newgrange (Co. Meath) to the east. That there were once even more prehistoric monuments in this rich farmland was revealed in the sweltering summer of 2018, when the parched earth showed up previously undetected sites as cropmarks. Also included in this ebook are many lesser-known but wonderful sites from the north and east of Ireland, such as the vast megalithic complexes of Beaghmore, Carrowmore and Carrowkeel. Each of these will take a whole day to explore fully, so allow plenty of time.

The Old Stones of Ireland is part of a series covering the megalithic and other prehistoric sites of Britain and Ireland. The series is published together as The Old Stones: A Field Guide to the Megalithic Sites of Britain and Ireland, available as a book and an ebook.

Contents

Editor’s Introduction

Ireland

Lithic Symbolism at Drombeg
Terence Meaden

The Art of the Boyne Valley
Robert Hensey

Modified Boulders of the Cavan Burren
Gaby Burns

Further Reading & Resources

Author Acknowledgements/Photo Credits

Join the Megalithic Portal

Editor’s Introduction

Andy Burnham, founder and Editor of the Megalithic Portal

This is the first book written by and for prehistoric site enthusiasts. It is a truly collaborative project – just like the Megalithic Portal website itself – that brings together photographs, site information, theories and expertise from the thousands of people that use and post on the site. Focusing on sites from the Neolithic and Bronze Age, this is the most comprehensive guide ever created to the best ancient places to visit in Britain and Ireland, offering an up-to-date look at the archaeology, including many extraordinary discoveries and theories that have been featured on the pages of the Megalithic Portal over the years, as well as a taster of the more mysterious side of things.

Just as the Portal is a collaborative effort, so no one person’s ideas or theories are given more weight in this book. Instead, we celebrate the advances in archaeological practice, theory, dating and analysis that have taken place in the last 25 years. Geophysics, excavation and dating techniques have progressed in this time. There has also been an increased recognition of the importance of accepting non-academic viewpoints, whether from schoolchildren, community volunteers or some of the more leftfield theorists. Alternative ways of exploring and appreciating sites and wider landscapes – previously the realm of a radical fringe – have filtered into the mainstream. Landscape archaeology has in many cases accepted – if not wholeheartedly embraced – phenomenology and multi-sensory approaches, which anyone can try with an open mind and a bit of practice. Advances in technology offer new ways of experiencing sites, for example through augmented reality that merges GIS (geographical information system) landscape models with 3D reconstructions of structures.

Recently, I've been rereading early 1990s editions of 3rd Stone magazine, styled “for the new antiquarian”, the realm of ley hunters and earth mysteries researchers. Have we moved on in 25 years? Ideas of alignments between sites, of stone shapes matching the landscape, of the importance of colour, sound and experiencing sites in different frames of mind have filtered through to theoretical archaeology, to be discussed openly in papers and at conferences – even if they don’t always get past the gatekeepers of archaeology books and magazines for consumption by the “general public”.

About the Megalithic Portal

The Megalithic Portal is completely independent, with no outside funding save for what we can raise with a bit of advertising on the site, and now through royalties from this book, all of which are being ploughed back into the dayto-day running and further development of the website and our other projects. For the last 10 years we have run as a membership society, similar to any other archaeology society, except with an international reach and outlook. We hold meetings by phone conference and our society members hail from all over Europe, as well as North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and beyond.

Ardlair recumbent stone circle Cows represent one of the biggest challenges faced by the megalith enthusiast!

One of the inspirations for the Megalithic Portal was my own experience, in the 1980s and early 1990s, of reading about sites in books or magazine articles with no accurate location details. Even now, articles and papers often don’t give proper location information. I started compiling links to sites on the early web in 1996. People began to offer their own information and photos, and a collaborative project was born. The Megalithic Portal was formed in 2001 to continue this process. Much of the site’s content has been created by a group of several hundred dedicated volunteers, but there is a huge range in involvement, from those sending in a couple of photos or sites, to people who have contributed more than 10,000 of these.

About this Book

This book is not just made up of my own favourite sites but has been compiled in a collaborative way, just like the Megalithic Portal itself. Contributions in the form of articles, which appear throughout the book, have come in from scores of writers, from archaeologists to alternative theorists to keen site visitors. Many of Britain and Ireland’s top prehistorians have kindly contributed pieces about their research.

I have included opinions from a wide range of people who have original ways to approach ancient sites. While I don’t personally go along with all of the ideas proposed, I feel it’s important to at least give them an airing and let you, the reader, make up your own mind. Sometimes thinking about a problem in a new and creative way can lead to unexpected breakthroughs and we should not be closed minded to different ways of experiencing ancient sites.

The Megalithic Portal photo gallery contains images from several thousand different contributors. Each photo has a voting button allowing visitors to “like” a specific site. This anonymous voting data provided the basis of a longlist for sites to include in the book, from which a team of Megalithic Portal members selected the final list of sites to include for each region. With the voting data in mind, as well as their local knowledge, the team identified the very “best” sites and gave these a star rating. The voting data also provided the basis for most of the Top 10 and 15 lists you will see throughout the book. After all this, we are confident this is the most comprehensive and democratically selected list of prehistoric sites that has ever been put in a book like this, grouped into regions for convenient visiting and browsing.

Site descriptions have been compiled from the available sources, including excavation reports and blogs from all over the various countries and regions. I must here send thanks to the various online national site databases: Canmore (Historic Environment Scotland), PastScape (Historic England), Coflein (Wales), the National Monuments Service Historic Environment Viewer (Republic of Ireland), the Northern Ireland Sites and Monuments Record, and the Manx Museum for their information and help, which has been invaluable. Some of the online entries are quite complex and hard to interpret so I hope our pithy summaries are helpful. Again, these entries have been checked and amended by Megalithic Portal members from all over the UK and Ireland. The vast majority of pictures in the book have been sent in by Megalithic Portal contributors. People have been so generous with their photos, taking time to look through their personal archives. Images have come from members as far afield as New Zealand and Japan. It has been tricky to keep track of exactly how many sites we’ve included – in the spirit of the “countless stones” of folklore, we kept getting different totals. However, I can confidently say we feature over 1,000 sites, with more than 600 with a full profile, plus some 400 “Nearby” listings, covering five countries and not forgetting the Isle of Man!

Each site listing includes an eight-figure Ordnance Survey map reference, and gives the OS paper map sheet the site is found on. For the UK the map sheets are: E – Explorer (orange); OL – Outdoor Leisure (yellow); L – Landranger (pink); and D for the Discoverer maps of Northern Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, the D is for Discovery Map, whose numbering is shared with the North. For Sat Nav and GPS users we also give latitude and longitude locations for sites.

We have not given full directions to each site as we could fill up a book just with these! The Megalithic Portal (www.megalithic.co.uk) has a page for each of the entries in this book (directly linked from the ebooks), where you will find more information. You can search by site name or by map reference using the box at top left of any Megalithic Portal page. We also have a great app that allows you to search for sites by name or on a map. Each page links to various online map services and satellite images. Look on the web pages for the Nearby Sites list to find the more obscure sites that we couldn’t fit in. You will also find visitor comments and source references at the bottom of each site page. If you know any sources of information we don’t currently list or have any comments about sites featured in this book or on the website, please do submit them.

The Megalithic Portal includes a wide range of ancient sites, so I should mention some that we haven’t had space to cover in this book: Iron Age features, such as hill forts, brochs and souterrains; Palaeolithic and Mesolithic find spots and camps; early Christian crosses and other early medieval sites; holy wells and sacred springs; modern stone circles; natural features that may have been revered by or inspired prehistoric people.

As this is a “field guide” we have only included a very few (particularly interesting) sites where there is little or nothing to see on the ground. In fact there are many more lost sites that have been destroyed. The Raunds Area Project in Northamptonshire, for example, found more than 20 vanished mounds, barrows, avenues and causewayed enclosures in the Nene valley, near Wellingborough. We list the ones we know about on the website and welcome photos of the surrounding landscape – even if there are no prehistoric remains still to be seen. Visiting sites that are no longer there, imagining what they were like or how they were used, is true “hardcore” site visiting and for this we salute you!

For reasons of space we have had to limit ourselves to the UK, Isle of Man and Ireland. We haven’t included sites on the Channel Islands, as these have more in common with the sites of France, and that’s something for another day. We did originally look at including parts of continental Europe but felt it would be impossible to do justice to the many thousands of megalithic sites in countries such as Germany, Denmark, France, Spain and Portugal, and in eastern Europe. There are also many ancient sites in the USA and the rest of the Americas. Not forgetting India, China and … why am I trying to list them all? The Portal features sites from 136 countries – including Liechtenstein, which I recently had to add so one of our contributors could post an entry.

SAFETY

Do not rely purely on modern technology for navigation; always carry a backup map and compass. Know your limits and take care around ancient monuments, which can be dangerous places with unseen holes, cliffs and other pitfalls. Take a torch with you and suitable rations if trekking long distances. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.

In this ebook we have embedded a link in the title of each megalithic site. These lead directly to the relevant pages on the Megalithic Portal web resource, so if you have an Internet connection you can click on these for more information and photos of each site.

How to Get Involved

We have tried to ensure the information in this book is as accurate as possible, but if you find any errors please do let us know so that we can update future editions. We would also love to hear from you on the website. At the Megalithic Portal we aim to be a sounding board for discussion, as well as a repository for accurate and up-to-date information on specific sites and monuments – and all of this requires constant input from our contributors. We strive to be fair to everyone and create an atmosphere where views can be challenged and disagreed with constructively and respectfully. We have, for example, a Sacred Sites and Megalithic Mysteries forum where we encourage discussion of all manner of experiences and theories relating to ancient sites. Just be respectful to others, even if you disagree with their ideas, and you’ll be welcome.

Also on the site is a visit log feature, where you can keep a record of all the ancient sites you have visited, along with your comments and personal ratings as you go. This can be found on the right-hand side of each site entry, along with the link to submit photos of your own.

These days, electronic devices such as smartphones are available to all, and these have changed the way we interact with the outdoors, whether with augmented reality, audio guides, geocaching, Pokémon Go or simply being able to access information while on the move. Academic papers are increasingly put online and even traditional closed journals are getting in on the the act, offering free trial periods or codes to get through their paywalls. Many archaeology site databases are now available online. But better linking of information sources is still badly needed and that’s something that we try to do at the Megalithic Portal. Official site databases could be better at curating links, and projects should plan for the long-term availability of their data. I have lost count of the number of projects that forget to renew their web addresses, while entire online archives disappear as researchers lose funding, move on or just go for a redesign. Keeping knowledge free and available amounts to the “archaeology of the internet”. But to get off my soapbox, it’s amazing that this unprecedented amount of information is available to everyone – it’s there to be made use of. And don’t forget traditional libraries, archives and just getting out there to do your own research.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Much damage is done accidentally by people who mean no harm. Think twice, and don’t do anything which would cause degradation to the monument. For more details on visiting sites, see the Megalithic Portal Charter, linked at the bottom of any page on the website.

• Check access. Exclusions to the “right to roam” include private gardens and cultivated farmland (unless on footpaths or field margins).

• Get permission to visit sites on private land. This is usually granted if asked for politely – many landowners appreciate their sites as much as we do, but repeated unauthorized visits could lead to access being denied to all.

• Don’t climb on the stones or on rock art. o Don’t try to remove lichen or dig near an ancient site.

• Don’t use wax candles or nightlights inside tombs. You can get very effective LED candles that are much cleaner and safer.

• Don’t light fires close to sites. o Do not move, mark or alter the site in any way, even temporarily.

• Don’t hide caches immediately in or around sites or use metal detectors.

• Any artefacts found should be reported to the local museum or via the Portable Antiquities Scheme (finds.org.uk).

• Do not fly drones around ancient sites without permission – for aerial photography try a kite or long pole instead.

• All in all, please be respectful, keep dogs under control and don’t “hog” the monument for your own rituals/purposes if there are others around.

This book is testament to the passion for prehistoric sites held by so many. Everyone can play a part in adding to our knowledge of ancient sites, and anyone can put time into researching, finding, photographing, monitoring and tidying them. I can only imagine what our stone-raising ancestors would have made of people all over the world communicating and rather obsessing over their efforts with seemingly magical writing devices, 5,000 years into the future! It’s a strange but humbling thought.

For a free extra year’s membership of the Megalithic Portal Society (two years for the price of one), go to: www.megalithic.co.uk/double

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Top 15 Megalithic Sites in Ireland

1. Newgrange (Meath) p.381

2. Poulnabrone (Clare) p.378

3. Loughcrew (Meath) p.386

4. Knowth (Meath) p.383

5. Drombeg (Cork) p.362

6. Beaghmore (Tyrone) p.396

7. Carrowmore (Sligo) p.391

8. Beltany (Donegal) p.394

9. Uragh (Kerry) p.371

10. Kilclooney More (Donegal) p.394

11. Kealkill (Cork) p.366

12. Castlenalacht (Cork) p.365

13. Proleek (Louth) p.387

14. Fourknocks (Meath) p.381

15. Haroldstown (Carlow) p.375

[IRELAND]

Republic of Ireland

Southwest Ireland

Cork

ALTAR Alt Name: Tuama Dingeach na hAltóra
Wedge Tomb | Townland: Cove | Nearest Village: Skull

Map: V 8593 3022 | Sheet: D88 | Lat: 51.51373N | Long: 9.64398W

A reasonably well-preserved wedge tomb in a wonderful setting just 30m (98ft) from the shore. Several of the side stones in the 3.4m (10ft 5in) long structure lean at quite an angle, and there are two roofstones (one 2.7m/8ft 10in long, the second just 0.1m/4in shorter). During excavations in 1989, a pit was found at the east end of the chamber containing fishbones and shells, with a cremation deposit discovered to the west. Access is easy as there is parking in a lay-by next to the site.

COOLCOULAGHTA

Standing Stones | Townland: Coolcoulaghta | Nearest Village: Durrus

Map: V 9311 3930 | Sheet: D88 | Lat: 51.59668N | Long: 9.54333W

This pair of nicely shaped stones were removed in 1980 and re-erected in 1983 after complaints from the public. They’re both about 1.8m (6ft) tall. Until the early 1970s there was another stone some 60m (200ft) to the SSW, which is said to be buried nearby. The site is signposted, with a parking place that’s also convenient for accessing nearby Dunbeacon stone circle.

Nearby | At V 9271 3920, 411m (1,348ft) west of Coolcoulaghta, is Dunbeacon, the only stone circle on the Mizen Peninsula. Six of the 11 stones in this damaged but characterful circle are still standing, surrounding a small, leaning central stone.

BALLYBANE Alt Names: Rock of the Rings

Rock Art | Townland: Ballybane West | Nearest Village: Ballydehob

Map: W 0184 3867 | Sheet: D88 | Lat: 51.59197N | Long: 9.41678W

Rock art handily located on a small outcrop by the side of the road. Most of the surrounding rock surfaces are pitted and uneven, but those responsible for creating this rock art have taken advantage of a smoother horizontal area, decorating it with a splendid array of loops and rings up to 0.6m (2ft) in diameter, as well as cup-marks and several long, straight grooves.

Nearby | At W 0177 3871, about 70m (230ft) northwest of the roadside panel, is another rock art panel.

GURRANES Alt Names: Three Ladies, Five Fingers

Stone Row | Townland: Gurranes | Nearest Village: Castletownshend

Map: W 1743 3152 | Sheet: D89 | Lat: 51.53082N | Long: 9.19054W

At Gurranes, three slender, finger-like pillars rise dramatically against the sky, with a fourth stone lying fallen nearby, out of line. There were five stones here originally, but one was removed in the 19th century and now stands in the Somerville Estate at Castletownshend. The stones are impressively tall, the highest reaching 4.3m (14ft).

DROMBEG

Stone Circle | Townland: Drombeg | Nearest Village: Glandore

Map: W 2467 3516 | Sheet: D89 | Lat: 51.56455N | Long: 9.08701W

With spectacular views down to the sea, Drombeg is probably the best-known stone circle in Ireland, and an excellent example of an axial stone circle. This type of circle, found in counties Cork and Kerry (but having an affinity to the recumbent stone circles of Scotland, see page 314), is characterized by the positioning of a recumbent stone – the axial – usually in the southwest of the circle, directly opposite the two tallest stones, the portals which mark the circle’s entrance, with the stones reducing in height from the portal stones to the axial stone. Typically, axial stone circles contain an odd number of stones (from 5 to 19). At Drombeg, there were originally 17 stones in a 9.5m (31ft) ring, of which 15 remain. The stones decrease in height from the 2m/6ft 7in portal stones to the 1m (3ft 3in) recumbent in the southwest. There are three cup-marks on the recumbent, one with a surrounding ring. Pits found within the circle included one containing cremated bone. Some 30m (98ft) to the west are the remains of two hut circles and a fulacht fiadh, where a mound of fire-cracked stone and charcoal-enriched soil, along with a trough, hearth and well, suggest cooking and feasting took place here. The site is easy to find, being well sign-posted and with a car park nearby.

“The winter solstice sun sets in the notch in the hills seen through the portals and over the axial stone.” Ken Williams

Lithic Symbolism at Drombeg

Terence Meaden, archaeologist and former Professor of Physics at Dalhousie University, Canada

The finest stone circle in southern Ireland, Drombeg is, I propose, replete with lithic symbolism and subtle refinements as to selected shapes and positioning relative to sunrises – not only for the eight traditional agricultural festival days of the year, but for intermediary days, too. All the perimeter stones that remain today are carefully positioned so that at sunrise on 16 optimum dates of the year, shadows are cast either upon the recumbent stone (in the summer half of the year) or upon a grand lozenge stone (in the winter half). One stone bears a carved phallus, while the recumbent has a vulva, both indicative of a fertility religion.

Full details in the open-access Journal of Lithic Studies, vol. 4, 5–37, 2017; and in Meaden, T. 2016. Stonehenge, Avebury and Drombeg Deciphered Saarbrücken: Lambert Academic.

Carved vulva and phallus at Drombeg

MAP

BOHONAGH

Stone Circle | Townland: Bohonagh | Nearest Town: Rosscarbery

Map: W 3076 3685 | Sheet: D89 | Lat: 51.58054N | Long: 8.99963W

An impressive axial stone circle with nine of the original 13 stones remaining, including the two portal stones, which reach 2.4m (7ft 10in). Three stones were re-erected after excavation in 1959. The circle is almost 10m (33ft) in diameter, and oriented east–west along the axis from the portal stones to the axial stone. A central pit contained a cremation deposit, and a cup-marked slab was also found. About 16m (52ft) east of the circle is a cup-marked boulder burial. A Bronze Age rectangular wooden house was also excavated at the burial site.

REANASCREENA

Stone Circle | Townland: Reanascreena | Nearest Town: Rosscarbery
Map: W 2640 4106 | Sheet: D89 | Lat: 51.6178N | Long: 9.06328W

Surrounded by a low earthen bank with a shallow ditch (usually full of water) and no entrance, Reanascreena (“ring of the shrine”) has 12 large, irregularly spaced stones in a 9.1m (30ft) ring, the two portal stones (1.5m/4ft 9in) opposite the axial stone (1.1m/3ft 7in). The circle is aligned east–west. Two pits were found within the circle during excavation in 1961, one with cremated bone fragments. There are several other stone circles within 5km (3 miles) of this site.

“This circle is two or three fields away from the road and difficult to find.” Celia Haddon

TEMPLEBRYAN Alt Name: Druid’s Temple

Stone Circle | Townland: Templebryan North | Nearest Village: Clonakilty

Map: W 3890 4371 | Sheet: D89 | Lat: 51.64316N | Long: 8.88335W

This axial stone circle is on private land, so seek permission, or you can climb the roadside bank to see it without trespassing. Originally an 11-stone circle (nine of which were still standing in the 18th century), now only five remain in the 9.5m (31ft) ring, one of which is fallen. The recumbent is in the SSW.

Nearby | Some 180m (594ft) northwest is a 3m (10ft) ogham stone in an ancient churchyard that is also on private land.

At W 4219 4515, 3.6km (2¼ miles) ENE of Templebryan, is the 2m (6½ft) Carrig Stone, said to be the remnant of a pair although a second stone is not in evidence.

At W 4135 3984, some 4.5km (2¾ miles) southeast of Templebryan, the Ahidelake standing stone overlooks Inchidoney Bay. Leaning at a very dramatic angle, it is nearly 2m (6½ft) tall (or long).

“The quartz stone at the centre of the circle is known as Cloich Griene, meaning ‘the sunstone’. This is said to be the stone from where nearby Clonakilty got its name.” Ebor Benson

CASTLENALACHT

Stone Row | Townland: Castlenalact | Nearest Town: Bandon

Map: W 4864 6086 | Sheet: D86 | Lat: 51.79821N | Long: 8.74525W

A splendid stone row, at 13.5m (44ft) the longest in County Cork. The four stones, aligned ENE–WSW, descend in height from 3.4m (11ft) to 1.9m (6ft 2in). The stone lying flat between the two smallest is not part of the original row.

Nearby | At W 4863 6111, 251m (824ft) north of Castlenalacht stone row and visible from it, is a 1.7m (5½ft) tall standing stone.

MAP

CLOGHBOOLA BEG

Megalithic Complex | Townland: Cloghboola Beg | Nearest Town: Millstreet

Map: W 3054 8526 | Sheet: D79 | Lat: 52.01552N | Long: 9.01242W

On a platform of land at the head of the valley in Millstreet Country Park (south of Millstreet), the five-stone circle is just 3m (10ft) in diameter, with an unusual axial stone that’s as tall as the portal stones. The complex also includes a well-preserved radial cairn or enclosure (with 19 stones standing), and there are also the possible remains of two stone rows.

“Comparable to Kealkill but with the rows fallen. This site has the benefit of unrivalled access, including for wheelchair users.” FrogCottage42

BEENALAGHT Alt Names: An siesar, The Six

Stone Row | Townland: Beenalaght | Nearest Village: Bweeng

Map: W 4852 8731 | Sheet: D80 | Lat: 52.0359N | Long: 8.75084W

Five stones still stand, with one fallen, at this magnificent six-stone row. The stones range in height from 1.8m to 3m (5ft 10in to 9ft 10in).

“The area is rich in prehistoric remains, especially standing stones.” Ken Williams

KEALKILL

Megalithic Complex | Townland: Kealkill | Nearest Village: Kealkill

Map: W 0538 5559 | Sheet: D85 | Lat: 51.74522N | Long: 9.37066W

An interesting and wonderfully located site, with views over Bantry Bay in fine weather. As well as an excellent five-stone axial stone circle, 2.4m (8ft) in diameter (with the recumbent slab in the southwest), there’s a pair of standing stones, one very tall and thin and the other shorter and wider, and a cairn. This is one of the few Irish circle sites to have been excavated. Nothing was found except the trenches for a setting of crossed timber “sleepers” that may once have held a stone or wood upright near the centre of the circle. The two large standing stones are about 1.5m (5ft) apart, and the taller of the two was broken at ground level during excavation and re-erected. It would originally have been over 6m (20ft) tall; now it’s about 4m (13ft) and the smaller one is 2.4m (8ft) high. South of the standing stones is an 8m (26ft) diameter cairn, incorporating a ring of 18 radially set, sharply pointed stones. Three large, close-set sockets were found in a trench, aligned northeast– southwest, on the northwest perimeter of the cairn.

Nearby | At W 0508 5526, 543m (1,782ft) WSW of Kealkill, is Breeney More, where the remains of a stone circle enclosing four boulder burials set in a rectangle can be seen. The stones of Kealkill are visible in the distance.

MAUGHANASILLY Alt Name: Ahil More

Stone Row | Townland: Maughanasilly | Nearest Village: Kealkill

Map: W 0432 5841 | Sheet: D85 | Lat: 51.77042N | Long: 9.38681W

A stone row with all five of its block-like stones still standing, in a stunning location on Knockbreteen, overlooking Lough Atooreen. The row, aligned northeast–southwest, is 5.8m (19ft) long. The tallest stone is 1.3m (4ft 3in) high. A piece has broken off one of the stones and lies next to it.

CAHERMORE

Standing Stone | Townland: Knockroe Middle | Nearest Village: Ballydonegan

Map: V 5995 4132 | Sheet: D84 | Lat: 51.60759N | Long: 10.0223W

An impressive stone, at least 4m (13ft) tall, very narrow in its north/south profile, with its broader sides facing east/west.

Nearby | At V 5691 4202, just over 3km (almost 2 miles) west of Cahermore, Killough East is another classic wedge tomb. Although the tomb is ruinous, what remains is impressive, with a huge capstone or roof slab, 2.7 × 1.7m (8ft 10in × 5½ft). Easily accessed over stiles (there are even signs!).

“A lovely stone with far-reaching views to the sea. Parking is in a lay-by approximately 250m (820ft) west from the gate to the site.” David Smyth

DERREENATAGGART

Stone Circle| Townland: Derreenataggart West | Nearest Village: Castletownbere

Map: V 6656 4629 | Sheet: D84 | Lat: 51.65385N | Long: 9.92894W

A really charming axial stone circle (pictured on page 368) with lovely views of the mountains and across to the sea. From the portal stones (one 2.4m/7ft 9in, the other broken), the stones decrease in height until the recumbent axial stone is reached, 1.2m (4ft) high and 2.2m (7ft 3in) long. Twelve stones of a probable 15 remain in the 8.5m (28ft) ring, of which three have fallen. Derreenataggart circle is unusual in that its axial stone is in the west, rather than in the southwest.

Nearby | At V 6731 4578, almost 1km (0.6 miles) ESE of Derreenataggart, is Chaislain Bheara standing stone, on a rocky outcrop by some recently built houses. It’s fenced in, but it’s a good tall stone, 3.2m (10ft 5in) high and very narrow.

MAP

KILMACKOWEN

Standing Stone | Townland: Kilmackowen | Nearest Village: Castletownbere

Map: V 6799 4948 | Sheet: D84 | Lat: 51.68279N | Long: 9.90943W

“When we visited it rained so hard there was no view at all. Still one of my favourites, an absolutely wonderful stone.” Jackie Bates

Standing high on Eagle Hill, this magnificent stone can be seen for miles around (given the right weather conditions). It has a classic playing-card shape, measuring 2.9 × 1.7m (9½ × 5½ft), with a thickness of just 0.2m (8in).

Nearby | At V 6805 4936, about 140m (450ft) southeast of the standing stone, is the charming Kilmackowen wedge tomb, with a small chamber and cup-marks on one of the side stones.

BALLYCROVANE Alt Name: Faunkil-and-the-Woods

Standing Stone | Townland: Faunkil-and-the-Woods | Nearest Village: Eyeries

Map: V 6571 5291 | Sheet: D84 | Lat: 51.713033N | Long: 9.943685W

This impressive ogham stone, at 4.7m (15ft 5in) the tallest in Ireland, is likely to have been a prehistoric standing stone. It’s set in a splendidly commanding position above Kenmare Bay. The now-weathered ogham inscription has been recorded as MAQI-DECCEDDAS AVI TURANIAS (“of the son of Deich, descendant of Torainn”). Access through the cottage.

ARDGROOM

Stone Circle | Townland: Ardgroom | Nearest Village: Ardgroom

Map: V 7087 5534 | Sheet: D84 | Lat: 51.73609N | Long: 9.86995W

Commanding a superb view from its exposed position over Bantry Bay, this fine, although somewhat atypical, axial stone circle has pillar-like stones similar to the slabs of the smaller circle at Drombohilly, 9.6km (6 miles) northeast (see page 370). The tall stones are full of character, rising to around 2m (6½ft). Nine stones remain standing in the ring, with one fallen and another missing (the prostrate stone to the northwest is not thought to be part of the original circle). The axial stone in the SSW is, unusually, not recumbent and has a sharply sloping top. About 6m (20ft) to the east is a further stone with a playing-card silhouette, 2.5m (8ft 2in) high. Signposted from the road, with a small car park at the end of an unpromising track.

Nearby | The following sites are within 1km (0.6 miles) of Ardgroom, but on private land and difficult to get to: the Ardgroom Outward NE standing stones are at V 7129 5556, 472m (1,549ft) ENE of Ardgroom; the Ardgroom standing stone is at V 7002 5561, 895m (just over ½ mile) west of Ardgroom; the Ardgroom Outward SW standing stones are at V 7010 5481, 934m (just over ½ mile) WSW of Ardgroom. The Ardgroom Outward NE stone circle is at V 7188 5646, 1.5km (almost 1 mile) northeast of Ardgroom.

At V 7481 5757, 4.5km (2¾ miles) ENE of Ardgroom, is the ruined Cashelkeelty W stone circle, with only three stones remaining, as well as Cashelkeelty E, the remains of a five-stone circle. Immediately to the south of Cashelkeelty E are three outliers, the surviving stones of a four-stone row.

Kerry

SHRONEBIRRANE Alt Name: Drimminboy

Stone Circle | Townland: Shronebirrane | Nearest Village: Lauragh

Map: V 7542 5540 | Sheet: D84 | Lat: 51.7377N | Long: 9.80413W

Shronebirrane stands in a fabulous mountainous setting in the Drimminboy valley, almost painfully wild and beautiful, despite the close proximity of the farmhouse. The circle is about 7m (23ft) in diameter, with eight tall stones (plus one fallen) remaining of a probable 13.

DROMBOHILLY

Stone Circle | Townland: Drombohilly Upper | Nearest Village: Lauragh

Map: V 7901 6079 | Sheet: D84 | Lat: 51.78689N | Long: 9.75411W

Challenging to get to, Drombohilly is fenced off with barbed wire in rough pasture in an ungated forestry enclosure. It’s worth the effort, though, as it is a fine circle in a truly spectacular setting, overlooked by Knockatee mountain, with views to the Kenmare estuary. The 8.5m (28ft) circle has nine remaining stones (of 11 originals), unusually pillar-like in shape, with a pair of radially set 2.1m (7ft) portal stones at the NNE. The eastern portal stone leans dramatically. Look out for the rather lovely spiral motif on the central stone, which may have been carved at a later date.

Nearby | At V 7901 6053, 262m (860ft) south of the stone circle and hidden in woodland planting, is Drombohilly wedge tomb – easiest to find with sat nav.

“One of the most beautiful stone circles on the Beara Peninsula.” John Ibbotson

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URAGH

Stone Circle | Townland: Uragh | Nearest Village: Tuosist

Map: V 8312 6344 | Sheet: D84 | Lat: 51.81155N | Long: 9.69551W

The wonderful five-stone circle of Uragh NE (at V 8312 6344), with its massive accompanying standing stone, is a remarkably beautiful site, set between loughs with hills, forest and waterfalls all around. One of the portal stones has fallen, but that doesn’t detract from the impact. The standing stone is a 3m (10ft) giant, set in front of the circle’s axial stone.

Nearby | At V 8352 6368, 468m (1535ft) ENE of Uragh NE, lies the ruined Uragh N stone circle, with Uragh Wood nature reserve nearby. At V 8251 6303, 726m (almost ½ mile) WSW of Uragh NE, is another stone circle, Uragh SW. This irregular circle, some 10m (33ft) in diameter, has 10 remaining stones, two of which have fallen, and a central boulder burial. Two of the stones to the south are quartz. It can be hard to find, depending on when the gorse was last cleared.

DROMAGORTEEN Alt Name: Bonane Heritage Park
Stone Circle | Townland: Dromagorteen | Nearest Village: Bonane

Map: V 9586 6534 | Sheet: D85 | Lat: 51.83117N | Long: 9.51137W

“Known as the ‘Judge and Jury’ as it consists of 13 stones with a central boulder burial. It is the centrepiece of a complex astronomical calendar that includes both solar and lunar cycles.” Tom Bullock

Set within Bonane Heritage Park, this fine axial stone circle, about 10m (33ft) across, has a fantastic and accessible (although steep) setting overlooking the valley. There are 13 stones, six still standing, up to 1.4m (4ft 7in) in height. The axial stone is at the SSW. The circle surrounds a boulder burial. Bonane Heritage Park has a number of other ancient monuments, including another boulder burial and a fulacht fiadh.

KENMARE

Stone Circle| Townland: Kenmare | Nearest Town: Kenmare

Map: V 9068 7071 | Sheet: D85 | Lat: 51.87842N | Long: 9.58821W

A nice bit of urban (or suburban) prehistory, Kenmare stone circle is right in the town, in a manicured setting of lawns and leylandii, but it’s still an atmospheric place. The largest circle in southwest Ireland, it’s 17.4 × 15.8m (57 × 52ft) in diameter and has 15 stones, all smallish, rounded boulders. In the centre is a boulder burial with a massive capstone.

EIGHTERCUA

Stone Row | Townland: Eightercua | Nearest Village: Waterville

Map: V 5120 6465 | Sheet: D84 | Lat: 51.81485N | Long: 10.15851W

An impressive four-stone row on the crest of a ridge, the largest reaching 3m (10ft) in height. The row is 9m (30ft) long and aligned east–west. There is some evidence of an adjacent tomb. Ask for permission at the small, white bungalow nearby.

BALLYNAHOW BEG

Rock Art | Townland: Ballynahow Beg | Nearest Village: Cahersiveen

Map: V 5306 8209 | Sheet: D83 | Lat: 51.97199N | Long: 10.13904W

The exposed vertical face of this outcrop is decorated with a dramatic array of motifs, including tailed cup-marks and a grid of grooved lines.

“The boulder is behind a house to the south of a by-road, in the second field (50m/164ft) from the road, to the west of a hedge and bank.” Anthony Weir

CARHOONMEENGAR EAST

Rock Art | Townland: Carhoonmeengar East | Nearest Village: Kenmare

Map: V 9040 7434 | Sheet: D78 | Lat: 51.91093N | Long: 9.59338W

This fine example of cup-and-ring decoration, on a low sandstone outcrop, was only officially recorded in 2001. Access the site from the quarry track at Lissyclearig.

“Uniquely in Irish rock art there are six precisely inscribed circles that appear to be preliminary sketches. It is possible that they are not contemporary with the rest of the carving, although the experts consider them to be original.” FrogCottage42

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Limerick

GRANGE Alt Names: Lough Gur B, Great Stone Circle, Lios na Grainsi
Stone Circle | Townland: Grange | Nearest Village: Limerick

Map: R 6326 4042 | Sheet: D65 | Lat: 52.51431N | Long: 8.54182W

Of all the many prehistoric sites in the wooded hills around Lough Gur, the most well-known is the stone circle at Grange in Limerick. This 23.8m (78ft) embanked circle has an unusual entrance passage, and its stones are placed very close together. The biggest stone is placed in the northeast, perhaps pointing to midsummer sunrise. Research in 2016 indicated that the present appearance of the circle is very much the result of 19th-century intervention, when more than 40 stones were added, as well as the interior being levelled and the exterior bank raised. Nonetheless, it is an evocative site.

Nearby | The following sites are within 1km (0.6 miles) of Grange: at R 6331 4032, 106m (348ft) southeast of Grange, is the Stone of the Tree standing stone; at R 6328 4054, 120m (394ft) north of Grange, is Lough Gur C stone circle; at R 6342 4072, 343m (1,125ft) northeast of Grange, is the Pillar Stone; at approximately R 638 411, 866m (just over ½ mile) northeast of Grange, is Lough Gur E, which may be the remains of either an avenue or of a court cairn; at R 6419 4066, 955m (over ½ mile) east of Grange, is the Lough Gur prehistoric settlement.

At R 6453 4021, some 1.3km (¾ mile) east of Grange, is Lough Gur wedge tomb, a large, well-preserved tomb, 9m (29ft) long, which was excavated in 1938. It has a unique double-walled construction. Four large roofstones cover the chamber. A fifth slab, found by the entrance, may have covered the portico. Bones from at least eight people were found in the chamber, along with pottery, and further bones were found in the wall-fillings and outside the gallery.

East of Ireland

Waterford

GAULSTOWN

Portal Tomb | Townland: Gaulstown | Nearest Town: Waterford

Map: S 5394 0629 | Sheets: D75/76 | Lat: 52.20624N | Long: 7.21164W

“Of the many portal tombs in Waterford, this one is my favourite.” Ken Williams

In a tranquil tree-lined setting, this is an attractive portal tomb with a chunky capstone, 4.2m (13ft 9in) in length and 1m (3ft 3in) thick. The entrance faces east into the hillside.

Kilkenny

KILMOGUE Alt Names: Leac an Scáil, Harristown Dolmen
Portal Tomb | Townland: Kilmogue | Nearest Town: Carrick-on-Suir

Map: S 5020 2821 | Sheet: D75 | Lat: 52.403585N | Long: 7.2617W

This spectacular dolmen (its name meaning “stone of the warrior/hero”) is one of Ireland’s largest, with an impressively tilted capstone raised at one end to 4.5m (14ft 8in) by 3.6m (11ft 10in) portal stones. Between the portal stones is a 2.7m (8ft 10in) door stone.

KNOCKROE

Passage Grave | Townland: Knockroe | Nearest Village: Windgap

Map: S 4086 3126 | Sheet: D67 | Lat: 52.43174N | Long: 7.40000W

Probably best known for its rock art, this substantial passage tomb has two chambers, east and west, aligned on the rising and setting midwinter sun (in fact, this is said to be the only site in Ireland with these alignments). There are more than 30 inscribed stones at Knockroe, some to be found in both chambers and others in the kerb, mostly to the south of the monument. Cremated human bone was found during excavation, along with pottery, beads, pendants, antler pins and fragments of bone.

Wexford

ROBINSTOWN GREAT

Stone Circle | Townland: Robinstown Great | Nearest Town: New Ross

Map: S 8105 2905 | Sheet: D76 | Lat: 52.4074N | Long: 6.80982W

A curious site, quite confusing to look at and tricky to reach. It’s described by some visitors as “elongated”, but is considered to be a four-poster, the quadrangle being the circle itself, and the additional stones being outliers. One outlier stands about 4m (13ft) to the southwest, and there is a quartz block between the circle and the outlier. The tallest stone in the circle is 1.6m (5ft 2in).

“I approached from the west up to between the two farm buildings, then keeping to the left gate. This was a big mistake! Six fields and two steep hedges. Try from the north (a farm track goes that way) or the east, which may be closer to a road.” David Smyth

Carlow

HAROLDSTOWN

Portal Tomb | Townland: Haroldstown | Nearest Town: Tullow

Map: S 9008 7793 | Sheet: D61 | Lat: 52.84512N | Long: 6.66379W

A beautiful portal tomb, said to have been inhabited during the 19th century. One of the two large roofstones may have cup-marks. The well-preserved chamber has a 1.8m (6ft) door stone set between the portal stones.

Nearby | At S 8414 7134, almost 9km (5½ miles) WSW of Haroldstown, in a field east of the Tullow–Bunclody road, is the imposing Ardristan standing stone, some 3m (10ft) tall. Its striking vertical grooves were probably deepened artificially.

BROWNE’S HILL Alt Name: Brownshill Dolmen, Dolmain Chnoc an Bhrunaigh
Portal Tomb | Townland: Kernanstown | Nearest Town: Carlow

Map: S 7538 7687 | Sheet: D61 | Lat: 52.837556N | Long: 6.881136W

Although partly collapsed, this is an extremely impressive structure with a truly enormous capstone that may, at an estimated weight of 100–150 tonnes (110–165 tons), be the heaviest in Europe. Three stones (the two portals and the door stone), all around 1.8m (6ft), are still standing, supporting the capstone.

Wicklow

BALTINGLASS

Passage Tombs | Townland: Pinnacle | Nearest Village: Baltinglass

Map: S 8855 8925 | Sheet: D61 | Lat: 52.94706N | Long: 6.68338W

Including the remains of three small passage tombs built at different times and partly overlying each other, plus two single-chambered tombs, this site is part of the wider Baltinglass complex of Bronze Age hill forts. A large cairn some 27m (88ft) in diameter, robbed for wall-building, still retains most of its internal features. Recent radiocarbon-dating (published 2017) has revealed the tomb was expanded with more substantial chambers and associated cairns over a 600-year life from approximately 3500–2900

CASTLERUDDERY

Stone Circle | Townland: Castleruddery Lower | Nearest Village: Baltinglass

Map: S 9159 9421 | Sheet: D55 | Lat: 52.99111N | Long: 6.63675W

This embanked 30m (98ft) circle of 29 remaining stones is set within an enclosure that now only exists as a cropmark. Some stones are set upright, others on their long side. Wedge marks in several stones suggest deliberate damage to the circle. Two huge quartz boulders (1.2 × 2.4m/4 × 8ft and 1.8 × 3m/6 × 10ft respectively) appear to form an entrance. To the east of this is a single standing stone.

Nearby | At N 930 032, 9km (5½ miles) NNE, is the 23m (75ft) Athgreany stone circle, also known as the Piper Stones and said to be merrymakers turned to stone. The outlier stone is known as the Piper.

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County Dublin

BRENNANSTOWN Alt Names: Glendruid, Druids’ Altar
Portal Tomb | Townland: Brennanstown | Nearest Town: Dun Laoghaire

Map: O 2287 2418 | Sheet: D50 | Lat: 53.254030N | Long: 6.159786W

On private land behind Glendruid House (seek permission to visit), this is a fine portal tomb with a massive, tilted capstone 4.5 × 4.5m (14ft 8in × 14ft 8in) supported on seven much smaller boulders. Two channels have been carved on the top surface of the capstone. BC. In the circular chamber of Tomb III is a large stone basin decorated with a double-armed cross within a cartouche. Some of the roofstones of its narrow passage survive.

Kildare

BROADLEAS Alt Name: Piper’s Stones

Stone Circle | Townland: Broadleas Commons | Nearest Village: Blessington

Map: N 9292 0761 | Sheet: D56 | Lat: 53.111243N | Long: 6.613072W

There are some 39 stones, often nestling shoulder to shoulder, in this approximately 30m (98ft) diameter circle set among ash, hawthorn and holly trees. One of the stones has a particularly dramatic appearance, apparently split clean in two by the growth of a holly tree.

PUNCHESTOWN Alt Name: The Long Stone

Standing Stone | Nearest Townland: Punchestown | Nearest Village: Naas

Map: N 9173 1656 | Sheet: D55 | Lat: 53.19183N | Long: 6.62838W

An impressive standing stone that tapers to a sharp point and was found to be 7m (23ft) long when it fell in 1931. Re-erected in 1934, it now stands 6m (20ft) tall. An empty stone cist was discovered beside the original socket, which could not be preserved when the new socket was made.

Nearby | At N 9116 1628, 626m (2,053ft) WSW of the Punchestown standing stone, is the Craddockstown West standing stone, in a field opposite the entrance to the racecourse. It’s a huge, tapering granite stone, around 4m (13ft) tall, that leans to the west.

Clare

PARKNABINNIA

Wedge Tombs | Townland: Parknabinnia | Nearest Village: Corofin

Map: R 2648 9357 | Sheet: D51 | Lat: 52.98813N | Long: 9.09548W

Around 150 wedge tombs are known in County Clare, with over 70 of them concentrated on the upland limestone region known as the Burren (meaning “stony place”). Several wedge tombs can be found in the Parknabinnia heathland, as well as what appear to be partly worked capstones. Recent excavations in the Parknabinnia court tomb (Cl. 153) found the remains of at least 20 people, who were interred there between c. 3690–3375BC and c. 2905–2620BC. Interestingly, hares (partly dismembered and whole) appear to have been deliberately deposited in this tomb during the Neolithic.

PARKNABINNIA 3

At R 2648 9357, this is one of the more accessible tombs, close to a minor road leading off the R476. The remains of its cairn survive, the roofstone is over 3m (10ft) long and the sides are formed of single massive slabs. The east (rear) end is closed and the front is partly closed. Recent excavations unearthed the skeletons of a child and an adult.

PARKNABINNIA 2

At R 2606 9331, 493m (1,617ft) WSW of Parknabinnia 3, is the Parknabinnia 2 wedge tomb, partly set into a wall with much of its surrounding cairn still evident. The capstone is cracked but still in place. There may have been a second gallery. Within 200m (656ft) of Parknabinnia 2, there is also a court tomb (at R 2602 9358) and a wedge tomb (at R 2606 9331).

PARKNABINNIA 4

At R 2588 9326, 186m (610ft) west of Parknabinnia 2 is the ruined Parknabinnia 4 wedge tomb, the remains of a chamber set in a substantial mound. There’s an upright in front of the tomb that may be the remains of an ante-chamber. Slabs on the west and south of the mound may be the remains of a kerb. Excavations uncovered cremated and unburnt human bone, as well as an unburnt and partially articulated adult outside the NNW end of the chamber.

PARKNABINNIA 1

At R 2574 9341, 205m (673ft) WNW of Parknabinnia 4, is Parknabinnia 1, a large wedge tomb with an unusual position just below the edge of a small escarpment. Within 100m (328ft) of Parknabinnia 1 are three more wedge tombs (at R 2574 9328, R 2575 9335 and R 2572 9338).

“Close to Parknabinnia 1 are remains (I found at least five) that look like abandoned workings, where large rough slabs (which abound in the area) were turned into capstones. In short, the area was a capstone factory. Tony “Enkidu41”

CAPSTONE FACTORY

In the same area (approximately R 259 933), in addition to the completed tombs, are unfinished capstones that seem to have been propped up at one end in order to be worked on.

POULNABRONE

Portal Tomb | Townland: Poulnabrone | Nearest Village: Ballyvaughan Map: M 2360 0036 | Sheet: D51 | Lat: 53.04869N | Long: 9.14003W

Poulnabrone (“hollow of the millstone”) is one of the most photographed sites in Ireland. A dramatic tomb with a slender roofstone balanced on huge slabs, it sits on the Burren’s curiously cracked limestone pavement. Surrounded by the remains of a cairn, the tomb is around 1.8m (6ft) tall, the supporting stones standing directly on the pavement. The roofstone (3.7 × 2.85m/12ft × 9ft 4in), which was prised from the surrounding pavement, helps to hold them in place. The eastern portal was replaced after excavation (1986–8) due to a number of cracks in both directions. The mixed bones of at least 35 people were interred here, c. 3800–3200BC, dating the tomb to the start of the Irish Neolithic. Other items found here included pottery sherds, a polished stone axe, flint/chert tools, two stone beads and a bone or antler pendant. On the route of many coach tours, you’re unlikely to get the site to yourself.

Nearby | At R 2324 9852, 1.9km (just over 1 mile) SSW of Poulnabrone is the large Poulawack cairn. Ten graves were found here, holding the remains of 16 people, interred 3000–1900BC.

TURLOUGH HILL

Prehistoric Settlement | Townland: Oughtmama | Nearest Village: Kinvarra

Map: M 3141 0732 | Sheet: D51 | Lat: 53.11232N | Long: 9.02501W

The windswept summit of Turlough Hill is the unusual location of a prehistoric settlement. A rampart wall, all the more impressive for being raised on a bank, is still in evidence; to the southwest of this enclosure, hut circles and a very large cairn can be seen. There are around 160 hut circles on Turlough Hill, excavated in 2016. Gaps in the rampart wall suggest that it was not defensive and it has been speculated that the two enclosures here were used for ritual purposes. It’s thought that the positioning of Turlough Hill right on the edge of the distinctive Burren landscape may have been significant, and that perhaps this was a seasonal meeting place for people of the Burren and elsewhere. Although precise dating of the whole site is insecure, remains here have been recently dated to the Bronze Age.

Galway

OGHIL Alt Name: Leaba Dhíarmada agus Gráinne
Wedge Tomb | Townland: Oghil | Island: Inishmore

Map: L 8498 0988 | Sheet: D51 | Lat: 53.12732N | Long: 9.71901W

The Aran Islands are perhaps most famous for their stone forts (dúns) and knitwear, but there are a number of wedge tombs as well, and Oghil, on Inishmore, is a good example. The structure is well preserved, with a double wall to the south and a gallery with three roofstones. The site’s alternative name means “bed of Díarmuid and Gráinne”, referring to the legend of the daughter of the High King of Ireland who eloped with her lover, sleeping on dolmens across Ireland as they fled.

Nearby | At L 8620 0985, 1.2km (¾ mile) east of Oghil, is the Dún Eochla wedge tomb, close to the lighthouse and next to the Dún Eochla ring fort (built c. 550–800 AD).

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SELLERNA BEACH

Burial Chamber| Townland: Knockbrack | Nearest Village: Cleggan

Map: L 5895 5866 | Sheet: D37 | Lat: 53.55904N | Long: 10.12937W

In a lovely setting overlooking Sellerna Bay, this tomb has a narrow chamber measuring 2.3 × 0.8m (7½ × 2½ft), covered by a roofstone that is propped up by a slab at the western (seaward) end. Three uprights form each of the side walls, and a further upright closes the tomb at its eastern end.

Mayo

SRAHWEE Alt Name: Tobernahaltora

Wedge Tomb | Townland: Srahwee | Nearest Village: Louisburgh

Map: L 7953 7446 | Sheet: D37 | Lat: 53.70609N | Long: 9.82505W

“As the ‘Altar Well’ (Tobernahaltora), it was formerly venerated as a holy well!” Anthony Weir

A well-preserved tomb, handily close to the road and with lovely views of Lough Nahaltora. A large roofstone, 2.1 × 2.4m (6ft 10in × 7ft 10in) covers most of the chamber. A septal stone divides the portico from the chamber. In wet weather, the chamber tends to flood.

BOHEH Alt Name: St Patrick’s Chair

Rock Art | Townland: Knappagh | Nearest Village: Westport

Map: L 9751 7866 | Sheet: D38 | Lat: 53.74763N | Long: 9.55428W

Behind a house east of Boheh Lough is an isolated rock outcrop that’s lavishly decorated with cup-marks and rings. Some 264 motifs have been identified, including the only examples of keyhole patterns in Ireland outside the southwest. Most of the designs are found on the south-facing surfaces – facing away from nearby Croagh Patrick. It may be relevant that, viewed from here, the setting sun appears to roll down the northern shoulder of the mountain on 18 April and 24 August.

DOONFEENY

Standing Stone| Townland: Doonfeeny Upper | Nearest Village: Ballycastle

Map: G 0867 3974 | Sheet: D23 | Lat: 54.29831N | Long: 9.40359W

A really splendid standing stone, slender and extremely tall (more than 5m/16ft high). It stands in a graveyard in an ankle-twistingly uneven site next to the road, beside a ruined chapel and with wonderful sea views. This is an excellent example of a Christianized standing stone, with two incised crosses added before the 11th century (they are easiest to see in low sunlight). It also has an impressive crop of lichen.

Meath

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FOURKNOCKS Alt Name: Fourknocks I

Passage Grave | Townland: Fourknocks | Nearest Village: Naul

Map: O 1085 6202 | Sheet: D43 | Lat: 53.59649N | Long: 6.32646W

This tomb may once have been roofed with timber and turf, but now it’s covered by a grassed-over concrete dome with apertures that allow light to fall on to the decorated lintels. There are 12 decorated stones in all, one with a human-like figure. The large, pear-shaped chamber is 6.5 × 7.5m (21ft 3in × 24ft 7in), with three recesses opening off it. During the 1950–52 excavations, 65 burials were found here, along with pottery and other items. There are three other mounds in this cemetery group.

“Entrance by key obtainable from a nearby resident. Details are on the sign by the site.” Drew Parsons

NEWGRANGE Alt Names: Sí an Bhrú, Brú na Bóinne
Passage Grave | Townland: Newgrange | Nearest Village: Slane

Map: O 0074 7272 | Sheet: D43 | Lat: 53.69463N | Long: 6.47564W           Robert Hensey

Newgrange is an internationally important site for a variety of reasons: its scale and sophistication, its megalithic art, and not least its significant archaeological context. Part of the Boyne valley complex, which incorporates the remains of over 40 Neolithic passage tombs as well as numerous other prehistoric sites, this huge passage grave consists of a large, circular mound with an inner stone-built passage and cruciform chamber. It is referred to as Brú na Bóinne in medieval literature, usually translated as “palace” or “mansion on the Boyne”, and is associated with a substantial corpus of mythology related to ancient deities such as the Dagda, Oengus and Bóand (the latter a personification of the River Boyne, which surrounds much of the complex). Though Newgrange was lauded in mythological literature, it was not until 1699 that Edward Lhuyd, Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, first described the architecture, including the “barbarous sculpture” and the “rudely carved” stone at the entrance. In the 1960s the site’s excavator, the late Professor Michael O’Kelly, discovered its orientation to sunrise on the winter solstice, and this served to propel the site to further archaeological renown. The solstitial alignment is centred on a feature above the passage known as the roof-box, the origins of which may be the result of an extension to the passage during a late Neolithic phase of enlargement at the monument. Every year (weather permitting) the light enters the chamber, witnessed by a small number of very fortunate members of the public. (Entry by lottery, for which forms are available at the visitor centre.)

Newgrange’s cairn is 85m (279ft) in diameter at its widest point and has 97 surrounding kerb stones, predominantly of greywacke (a very hard, dark grey sandstone), many of which are intricately carved. The largest is estimated to weigh 7 tonnes (7.7 tons). This cairn is further surrounded by 12 great stones, approximately one third of the original stones of the Great Stone Circle – an early Bronze Age addition to the site.

The attention the site has received over many centuries, as a result of treasure hunting and so on, is one explanation for the paucity of artefacts recovered from the chamber through excavation, although human bone, beads, pins and stone balls, typical of passage tomb assemblages, have been found.

The conservation and reconstruction of the monument has been criticized, primarily the quartz-covered cairn facing, though it should be noted that revetted constructions are a common element in Neolithic tombs both in Ireland and across Europe. More positively, the overall efforts have allowed access into the monument’s chamber, permitted the sizable collection of megalithic art on the kerb stones to be appreciated, and directly resulted in the discovery of the world-renowned winter solstice alignment. All of this has greatly improved our understanding of the communities that constructed the site as well as our experience of this extraordinary monument.

OTHER STRUCTURES AT NEWGRANGE

To the south and east of the passage tomb, excavation has revealed a circle of post-holes and pits containing animal cremations, which are remnants of a ceremonial site known as Woodhenge. This large wooden enclosure, over 60m (197ft) in diameter, was built in the early Bronze Age, when the tomb was no longer in use. Other significant monuments at Newgrange include the U-shaped cursus to the east of the main mound, which is now barely visible, and the enormous embanked enclosure by the river below.

To visit Newgrange and nearby Knowth (see below), you will need to book a tour at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre at Newgrange. One of Ireland’s most popular visitor attractions, Newgrange can get very busy indeed, so it’s wise to arrive early or book in advance.

KNOWTH

Passage Graves | Townland: Knowth | Nearest Village: Slane

Map: N 9969 7342 | Sheet: D43 | Lat: 53.70112N | Long: 6.4913W           Robert Hensey

The main site at Knowth is one of the largest and most decorated passage tombs in Europe, with over 300 carved stones. Between 1962 and 2000, seasonal excavation and restoration led by Professor George Eogan revealed a multi-phase archaeological complex, including 21 smaller tombs and a grooved ware-associated timber circle surrounding the enormous central site.

Knowth 1 contains two passage tombs: an undifferentiated one facing west and a cruciform example facing east, 34m and 40m (112ft and 131ft) in length respectively. Research by Frank Prendergast and Tom Ray has demonstrated conclusively that neither is oriented to the equinoxes, despite a common belief to the contrary.

An interesting recent discovery demonstrates two successive phases of tomb building, evidenced by the apparent “recycling” of at least 24 stones with megalithic art from an older monument, and the extension of both passages, which required an enlargement of the covering mound. A recent dating campaign has confirmed the site’s Neolithic credentials, placing its use largely between 3200BC and 2900BC, though significant settlement activity occurred in the 7th and 8th centuries AD when the site was transformed into a high-status settlement, followed by further activity during the Anglo-Norman period.

The corbelled roof of the eastern tomb is almost 6m (20ft) high, and the ornate basin found in the chamber, along with the strikingly decorated Maesmawr-type ovoid flint mace head found nearby are two of the most spectacular objects from the site. The latter find, with related artefacts, and the presence of grooved ware pottery, indicate significant and continued connections between Knowth and northern Britain in the third millennium BC. Two small six-knobbed beads, also found in the eastern tomb, appear to be miniature versions of the famous Scottish carved balls (see page 312), suggesting links between Ireland and Orkney around 3000BC.

You can only visit Knowth on a tour booked at the visitor centre at Newgrange.

DOWTH

Passage Graves | Townland: Dowth | Nearest Town: Drogheda

Map: O 0237 7377 | Sheet: D43 | Lat: 53.70375N | Long: 6.45062W        Robert Hensey

The Dowth complex could be considered the Cinderella of the three Boyne valley “mega-mounds”, with intensive geophysical research and other painstaking investigations now revealing the site and its environs to be just as interesting as its more famous neighbours. Though described by various antiquarians, the main site was not formally investigated until 1847, when the Royal Irish Academy led an unsuccessful excavation. About 85m (279ft) in diameter and 15m (49ft) high, it’s the least restored and developed of the principal mounds. Dowth Site 1 houses two passage tombs – Dowth North and South – though another potential passage and chamber is hinted at by a straight line carved down the centre of kerb stone 50. The southern tomb shows the well-known passage tomb preference for right-hand sidedness, having a single recess to the right-hand side of the passage, and unusually, an additional annexe. This tomb is accepted by many as having an astronomical orientation on the winter solstice sunset; however, because of its relatively short passage, only 3.3m (11ft) long, sunlight enters its chamber from the beginning of October to late February. There are 115 kerb stones enclosing the monument, with the most notable, perhaps appropriately, dubbed “stone of the suns”.

There are two ancillary passage tombs, but evidence of multiple, previously unrecognized, passage tombs nearby has been slowly coming to light.

It is not possible to access the tombs at Dowth, but you can visit the mound to get an idea of how the other tombs looked before modern excavation and restoration.

Nearby | At O 0222 7572, 2km (1¼ miles) north of Dowth, and within sight of the Dowth and Newgrange mounds, is the damaged Townleyhall passage grave, with concrete markers showing the position of missing stones.

The Art of the Boyne Valley

Robert Hensey, specialist in Irish Neolithic monuments, art and religion

The number of stones in the Boyne valley with megalithic art, totalling many hundreds, indicates that the region was a major creative hub in the European Neolithic. Art can be found on different media, such as pottery or grave goods, but it is most commonly preserved on the monument’s construction features: inside chambers, on the passage uprights and on kerb stones. The classic style of Irish passage tomb art is characterized by circles, cup-marks, spirals, lozenge/triangles, U-motifs, zigzags, serpentiform and radial forms. These core motifs are often combined to make quite complex and beautiful designs.

Picking was the usual technique for creating the art on stone; a fine tool with a hard tip (quartz or flint) and a mallet (probably wooden) were most likely the basic tools used. In recent years, more and more evidence for the application of colour to the construction stones of Neolithic monuments has been found across Europe, and it may be that only a small percentage of the variety of art that once existed has survived.

The combination of unknown motivations for the creation of megalithic art, the varied styles within the tradition, and the possibility that it is entirely abstract do not encourage cohesive interpretation. In the past, accounts of the art in the Boyne valley often mirrored prevailing ideas regarding the monuments on which it was found: that it was linked to sacrifice, for example, or to the burial of elites, or to a goddess of the earth. A long-lived interpretation is the idea that particular motifs are representations of the sun or other heavenly bodies. The discovery and validation of astronomical alignments at several passage tombs has done much to keep this idea in vogue.

One of the limiting factors of previous interpretations of passage tomb art, however, is that too often it has been studied as a phenomenon with a singular meaning and a uniform response, or one that can somehow be separated from other activities associated with the construction and use of the monuments. The penchant for phenomenological interpretation in the 1990s emphasized the art as part of the overall experience of entering and moving within a monument. Other bodily interpretations include how the art may have been used in Neolithic ritual, in particular its relationship to forms seen by individuals in trance states.

More recent work has changed the emphasis to artistic process, memory and performance, away from the viewer and the more usual end-result driven interpretation. These approaches have stimulated new ways of looking at passage tomb art as well as many new questions. What kind of performances surrounded these activities? How was the art used in maintaining or changing conventions – for instance, how did later populations in the Boyne valley relate to older iterations of art? To these questions we have few answers. It seems the art will continue to be a source of intrigue and mystery, and perhaps this was always part of its role.

LOUGHCREW Alt Name: Sliabh na Caillí

Passage Graves | Townland: Corston | Nearest Town: Oldcastle

Map: N 5860 7758 | Sheet: D42 | Lat: 53.74469N | Long: 7.1125W

Famous for its equinox alignment and rock art, Loughcrew is one of the four most important passage graves, along with Carrowkeel (see page 390), Carrowmore (see page 391) and Newgrange (see page 381). Around 30 graves and mounds remain here. The site extends across two hills: Carnbane East and Carnbane West (carnbane means “white cairn”). Carnbane East is also known as Sliabh na Callí, or the Hag’s Mountain, and legend relates that the mounds were dropped from her apron.

Some cairns are locked, with signs informing where to get the keys (it is worth accessing them as the locked cairns contain the best rock art). There is a car park between the two hills. This free site is open from the end of May until the end of August (check dates before travelling), with access to Cairn T at both the spring and autumn equinox at dawn.

“The site is one of the best in Britain and Ireland, and the views are amazing. On a clear day it feels like you can see every mountain range in Ireland.” Paul Blades

CAIRN T

On Carnbane East, the well-preserved Cairn T has a kerb of 47 exceptionally large stones, one of which (“the hag’s chair”) is over 3m (10ft) long and 2m (6½ft) wide and covered with rock art. There is also fine decoration on 19 of the uprights, eight roofstones and two sill stones. It is also surrounded by six satellite tombs that contain a variety of decoration, including solar designs. At equinox, the rising sun illuminates the passage and chamber of Cairn T, including the back stone, intricately decorated with what appear to be sun symbols.

CAIRN U

Often the first structure reached on Carnbane East, Cairn U is a kerbed cairn with a roofless passage grave. Four recesses open off the central chamber and there are 13 beautifully decorated stones.

CAIRN S

Also part of the Carnbane East complex is Cairn S, a kerbed cairn containing a small roofless passage tomb, with a recess opening off the main chamber. Five of the uprights are decorated.

CAIRN L

On private land and currently inaccessible; this is one of the two large cairns on Carnbane West, containing a passage grave with seven side recesses. The tomb contains 18 decorated stones, including a limestone pillar known as the Whispering Stone. This is lit up by the rays of the rising sun at Imbolc and Samhain (Cairn M, east of Cairn L, is also aligned in this direction). In 2015 Irish archaeoastronomer Paul Griffin theorized that some of the carvings were made on 30 November, 3340BC and may be the first record of a solar eclipse. The cairn is surrounded by four smaller tombs, some with decorated stones.

CAIRN D

The largest of the Loughcrew monuments, measuring some 55m (180ft) across, Cairn D is something of a mystery as the mound is apparently empty, containing neither passage nor chamber. Eight smaller mounds surround Cairn D.

Louth

PROLEEK Alt Name: The Giant’s Load

Portal Tomb | Townland: Proleek | Nearest Town: Dundalk

Map: J 0826 1103 | Sheet: D29 | Lat: 54.0372N | Long: 6.34826W

“Local legend says the capstone was put in place by the Scottish giant Parrah MacShagean, who reputedly is buried nearby, hence the name ‘the Giant’s load’. Another tale says it was brought by a giant from a nearby mountain.” Ray Spencer

Situated in the grounds of Ballymascanlon House Hotel, this is a really impressive portal tomb, with a massive, 3.2 × 3.8m (10ft 5in × 12ft 5in) capstone, balanced rather precariously on two portal stones over 2.1m (6ft 10in) high, and a shorter, 1.8m (5ft 10in) side stone, which is buttressed by a modern support. You may notice the pebbles on top of the capstone – tradition states if you throw one up there and it doesn’t roll down again, you’ll be married within a year. Or you can make a wish, not necessarily wedding-related.

Nearby | At J 0834 1100, 80m (262ft) ESE of Proleek dolmen, Proleek wedge tomb also deserves a visit. It’s 6m (20ft) long and widens to over 1m (3ft 3in) at the western end.

“There is a much easier approach from a minor road which runs north from Ballymascanlan to Greenore road near the new bridge. Drive until you come to a bridge across the stream on your left. Take the left fork of the lane and approach Proleek by a pathway at the back of the golf course.” Brian T. McElherron

West of Ireland

Cavan

AUGHRIM

Wedge Tomb | Townland: Bawnboy | Nearest Town: Ballyconnel

Map: H 2880 1656 | Sheet: D26 | Lat: 54.09743N | Long: 7.56057W

When the Quinn Group were quarrying on Slieve Rushen, they relocated this fine wedge tomb in the grounds of the Slieve Russell Hotel in Ballyconnel. (When the Quinn Group subsequently collapsed, it was claimed this was “caused by fairies” due to the moving of the tomb!) The ruined gallery, about 6m/20ft long, is set in a low cairn retained by a kerb. During excavation three cist burials were found inside the kerb, and inhumed and cremated bone, along with Beaker and food-vessel pottery, was recovered from below the cairn and inside the gallery.

GIANT’S LEAP Alt Names: The Giant’s Grave, Burren
Wedge Tomb | Townland: Burren | Nearest Village: Blacklion

Map: H 0787 3523 | Sheet: D26 | Lat: 54.26589N | Long: 7.87990W

The Cavan Burren, like its Clare namesake, is a limestone region and considered one of the finest landscapes of its type in the country. Here, there are prehistoric field systems, glacial erratics and fossils, as well as a fine collection of wedge tombs. Walking trails in the Cavan Burren Park showcase a series of monuments. Giant’s Leap wedge tomb, a very well-preserved example adjacent to the Giant’s Leap gorge, is over 7m (23ft) long. Three of the five roofstones cover the chamber, and there are possible cup-marks in the one at the front. Two of the supporting stones lean toward each other, forming a triangular entrance. The site is very reminiscent of a French allée-couverte. For more information on this and other sites in the park visit: www.cavanburrenpark.ie

Nearby | At H 0743 3526, 438m (1,437ft) west of the Giant’s Leap and also in the Cavan Burren Park, is the Tullygobban wedge tomb. It’s ruinous but still impressive. The name is thought to derive from a tradition of attributing the building of such sites to the Gobán Saor, the master craftsman of Irish folklore. This is the closest site to the visitor centre.

Modified Boulders of the Cavan Burren

Gaby Burns, retired teacher, cartographer, caver and boulder-monument specialist

A limestone plateau, mostly covered in mature coniferous woodland, the Cavan Burren is part of the Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark and recognized as a relict landscape, fascinating from geological, botanical and archaeological perspectives. The name Burren comes, appropriately, from the Gaelic boireann – stony place. As well as the limestone underfoot, there are hundreds of glacial erratics, abandoned by the withdrawal of the ice sheets. These are generally sandstone, and often the limestone around them has been eroded away, leaving some on naturally formed pedestals. The area is also the nucleus of a whole range of modified boulder monuments, with numerous additional examples to be found in adjacent areas. The sandstone boulders display various modifications – slab removal, creation of overhangs and pits, pedestal enhancements, repositioning and, in more than a third of the examples, propping.

Many of the boulders exhibit Atlantic rock art, but even more significantly a new form of rock sculpting has been identified. All of these new forms of boulder modification can be verified by the presence of “evidence” boulders and a significant number of comparative examples. Many of the most significant monuments display directional ridges and align with others on similar solar alignments. They are fully integrated with prehistoric settlement features – both huts and walls – and although these have not yet been dated, the integrated landscape, including the boulder monuments, is closely associated with the nearby wedge tombs. Over 150 modified boulders have been recorded in the Cavan Burren and immediate surroundings – two thirds of these have some form of rock art or sculpting, and more than half of the monuments have three or more modifications. Such a density and range of boulder monuments has yet to be found anywhere else in Europe.

The full range of modifications, observed on many of the monuments, can be illustrated by describing a few of the main examples. A boulder with verifiable sculpting is PB48 – this is an “evidence” boulder due to the fact that it is a split boulder with two sections still in place. One section has extensive working while the corresponding section remained unworked. The monument has a prominent elongated ridge with channels, peak and notches. These features have also been observed on dozens of other boulders, including evidence boulders. PB48 can also be shown to have had several slabs removed to provide the necessary work surfaces. What is so interesting about this monument is that another one, PB46, has been created with identical features. PB46, unlike PB48, has a prominent prop which has been inserted to present the sculptings on the required level. The elongated ridges of the two rocks have identical elevation and direction – both point to exactly the same point in the sky.

Burns, G., and Nolan, J. 2017. Burren-Marlbank: A prehistoric monumental landscape. Free download at cavanburren.ie and the Megalithic Portal page for Giant’s Leap.

Sligo

CARROWKEEL

Passage Tomb Complex | Townland: Carrowkeel | Nearest Village: Castlebaldwin

Map: G 7523 1206 | Sheet: D25 | Lat: 54.05718N | Long: 8.37898W

Set high above Lough Arrow, Carrowkeel is a truly wonderful place to visit. It’s a complex of 14 passage tombs, and one of the four most famous monument complexes in Ireland, along with Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne, page 381), Loughcrew (page 386), and the nearby Carrowmore tombs (see opposite). Carbon-dating has put the monuments to between 5,400 and 5,100 years old, making them older than the pyramids at Giza. Six more passage tombs can be found to the west in the nearby Keshcorran complex. The tombs were opened in a rather rushed way by R.A.S. Macalister in 1911, who was convinced they were Bronze Age. Human cremations were found, as well as pottery, beads, pendants and small white stones not unlike children’s marbles. Excavations to modern standards have put the dating back to 3200bc, although they were still in use in the Early Bronze Age (2000bc). The site is well sign-posted and there is a car park.

CAIRN K

Cairn K is one of the best preserved of the tombs, and also the tallest. The 4.5m (14ft 9in) passage leads to a chamber with two side chambers and an end chamber. The corbelled chamber roof is 3.4m (11ft) high, and covered by a large flat roof slab. In 1911 burnt bone as well as antler and bone pins, stone beads, balls and pendants, and a Bronze Age bowl were found here.

“We sat in the dark and listened to the rain dripping through the cairn into the passage. A wonderful moment.” Jackie Bates

CAIRN F

Partly ruined by the collapse of a massive roof slab, Cairn F was described by the 1911 excavators as “one of the most impressive and interesting ancient structures remaining in Ireland”. The 1.4m (4ft 7in) entrance is more imposing than any of the other cairn entrances, and the interior has a different layout from any of the other Carrowkeel monuments, with five recesses opening off a 3.6m (12ft) chamber that widens inward from 0.6m (2ft) at the entrance. The construction of the chamber shows a high level of technical skill, with packing stones tilting the slabs (preventing rainwater from entering) and diagonally placed stones used in the corners to narrow the space to be covered by roofstones. A broken standing stone was found between the innermost pair of recesses, with human ashes and a set of water-worn stones nearby.

CAIRN H

This has the best-preserved kerb of any of the tombs, but you can only get a little way into the passage, as the chamber was wrecked during the 1911 excavations, making it inaccessible. The passage and chamber may have had a combined length of about 8.5m (27ft 10in).

CAIRN G

One of the most impressive and thrilling of Carrowkeel’s tombs, Cairn G includes a lightbox, a letterbox-like space above the entrance lintel that admits the light of the setting sun around the time of the summer solstice, illuminating the back of the chamber. It’s quite a tight fit to squeeze around the entrance slab, but once you’re in you can look back out through the lightbox. The low passage is about 2m (6½ft) long, leading to a chamber 2.3m (7½ft) high, with two side chambers and an end chamber. The tall uprights support the lintels and corbelling, and there’s a large flat roof slab above the main chamber. Stone pendants, balls and beads, as well as burnt bone, were found here in 1911.

CAIRN E

Sited at the top of a heather-covered ridge, it’s a tough scramble to access this unusual hybrid: a court tomb with a long mound, and a passage grave. The mound is 10.7 × 36.6m (35 × 120ft), rising to 2.4m (8ft) in the middle. At its SSE end, there is a large stone, 3.6m (12ft) long and 0.9m (3ft) high, placed in a way that the excavators believed to indicate a large porch, reminiscent of the horned long barrows such as Hetty Pegler’s Tump (see page 80). There is a cruciform chamber but no gallery.

CAIRN B

Also up on the ridge, Cairn B contains a pair of spiral carvings on the eastern side of the chamber, identified in 2010.

Nearby | At G 7725 1626, 4.7km (3 miles) northeast of Carrowkeel, is Heapstown cairn, an enormous structure some 61m (200ft) in diameter and rising to 6m (20ft), despite the removal of many of the stones for construction. You can clearly see some 30 of the kerb stones. The site has never been excavated but it is assumed to contain a passage tomb.

CARROWMORE

Passage Graves | Townland: Carrowmore | Nearest Town: Sligo

Map: G 6622 3371 | Sheet: D25 | Lat: 54.25112N | Long: 8.51904W

The tombs of Carrowmore are the earliest and least architecturally sophisticated of the Irish passage tombs, with their chambers simply constructed out of large boulders. The people responsible for building them may have moved east, with monuments developing in sophistication as they went, culminating in the impressive cairns of Loughcrew and the Boyne valley. However, the Carrowmore monuments make up for their lack of sophistication by their huge variety and number, with around 30 still remaining out of more than double that number originally.

The two main areas of the site extend either side of a road, with a car park beside the cottage that serves as a visitor centre. You can follow the recommended visitor route, join a guided tour or simply do your own thing. The majority of monuments are satellites of Tomb 51, also known as Listoghil. The tombs are known by the numbers 1–59, given to them in 1837 by George Petrie in a report for the Ordnance Survey. Site 7 and Site 5 are particularly photogenic, chunky dolmens, and Site 7 is also surrounded by a wonderful circle of 32 boulders. Sites 11, 26 and 57 are good examples of stone circles. Carrowmore is open from Easter to the end of October (check dates before travelling).

CARROWMORE 51 (LISTOGHIL)

Listoghil is the only Carrowmore tomb that was definitely covered by a cairn, although the one you see today was reconstructed after the tomb was excavated. The chamber has a huge roofstone like the lid of a grand piano. It has been suggested that Listoghil is aligned with sunrise on the cross-quarter days of Samhain and Imbolc, which from here is seen to occur in a dip between the hills on the horizon, known as the Saddle. It is not known whether there was a passage when the tomb was first built, or indeed whether it was immediately covered with the cairn.

Nearby | At G 7003 3574, around 4.5km (2¾ miles) ENE of Carrowmore, is Abbeyquarter chambered tomb. At this unusual site, remains of a tomb, very similar to some of those at Carrowmore, can be seen on a roundabout in a housing estate, with various additions, including a large crucifix and a statue of the Virgin Mary.

QUEEN MAEVE’S CAIRN

Cairn | Townland: Knocknarea South | Nearest Village: Strandhill

Map: G 6260 3458 | Sheet: D25 | Lat: 54.25875N | Long: 8.57456W

A huge cairn on the summit of Knocknarea, from where it dominates the surrounding countryside. Named for the mythical Queen Maeve, it has never been excavated and is assumed to contain a passage grave. Around 5m (16ft) in height and 15m (49ft) in diameter, it has been damaged by people climbing over it. There is a smaller cairn about 30m (98ft) ENE. Bones from a child and an adult, from around 3500BCPhoto © Anthony Hall, were discovered in a cave on Knocknarea.

CREEVYKEEL

Court Tomb | Townland: Creevykeel | Nearest Village: Cliffony

Map: G 7192 5455 | Sheet: D16 | Lat: 54.4387N | Long: 8.4335W

A fine example of its type, close to the main Sligo– Bundoran road, Creevykeel has been extensively reconstructed. The wedge-shaped cairn was originally about 60m (197ft) long. The passage opens into a large oval court that leads to a gallery with two chambers. The largest stones are at the entrance, reaching about 1.8m (6ft) high. There are also three additional single-chambered tombs behind the gallery. The tomb was excavated in 1935, and a stone bead, along with cremated bone, pottery, and two clay balls, were found.

Donegal

SHALWY Alt Name: Muinner Carn

Court Tomb | Townland: Shalwy | Nearest Village: Kilcar

Map: G 6481 7531 | Sheet: D10 | Lat: 54.624758N | Long: 8.545569W

A fine, well-preserved court tomb with a very impressive double-lintelled portal, with a gabled top stone giving the site the appearance of a little ruined house. A possible door slab lies in the front chamber, and the large roofstones of the gallery are supported by corbels.

CLOGHANMORE

Court Tomb | Townland: Malinmore | Nearest Village: Glencolmcille

Map: G 5189 8260 | Sheet: D10 | Lat: 54.68918N | Long: 8.74674W

Aligned east–west, this large tomb, 39m (130ft) long (including the 13.7m/45ft) long oval court), has parallel twin galleries on each side of the entrance. The two western galleries are each divided in two, and one has a large roofstone. Faint carvings on some court stones may be prehistoric. The 46.3m (151ft) cairn reaches 1.5m (5ft) in height to the east. The monument’s appearance was altered by restoration (such as the addition of dry-stone walling) at the end of the 19th century.

KILCLOONEY MORE

Portal Tomb | Townland: Kilclooney More | Nearest Village: Ardara

Map: G 7221 9672 | Sheet: D10 | Lat: 54.81755N | Long: 8.43308W

Two portal tombs at either end of the remains of a long cairn, the fabulous Kilcooney More II, with its enormous roofstone (3.7 × 4.2m/12ft × 13ft 9in), being the larger. You can clearly see the padstone set between the back stone and roofstone, positioned to get the angle of the tilt just right. Kilcooney More I, the small tomb at the other end of the cairn, has partly collapsed.

BELTANY

Stone Circle | Townland: Tops | Nearest Village: Raphoe

Map: C 2544 0036 | Sheet: D6 | Lat: 54.85039N | Long: 7.60476W

In a great setting with fine views, this wonderful circle is named for an alignment to the rising sun at May Day, or Beltane. The 45m (147ft) circle is probably the kerb of a very damaged cairn, which stands on a 0.5m (1½ft) artificial platform. Around 60 stones of a possible original 80 remain, many set close together and some leaning dramatically. The tallest (2.7m/8ft 10in) stone in the WSW faces a 1.4m (4½ft) cup-marked triangular slab at the ENE; these two stones create the alignment to May Day sunrise. Some 20m (66ft) to the southeast is an outlier, and there are other standing stones to the north and northwest. Large stones in the circle’s centre may indicate that a structure, perhaps a passage tomb, once stood there. When first recorded (in 1836) the site was already disturbed, with stones removed for wall-building.

BARNES LOWER

Standing Stones | Townland: Barnes Lower | Nearest Village: Kilmacrenen

Map: C 1077 2445 | Sheet: D2 | Lat: 55.06727N | Long: 7.83217W

A pair of stones set quite closely together, each with both faces decorated. The larger stone is a broad slab, 2.2m (7ft 2in) high by 2.4m (7ft 10in) wide, its eastern face covered in cup-marks, some with rings, and shallow grooves. The smaller stone is narrower, and has cup-marks and a cross on its western face, and more cup-marks on the eastern side.

MUNTERMELLAN Alt Names: The Dane’s Cove, Díarmuid and Gráinne’s Bed
Portal Tomb | Townland: Muntermellan | Nearest Town: Dunfanaghy

Map: C 0180 3877 | Sheet: D2 | Lat: 55.196029N | Long: 7.972474W

A stunning setting with views to Errigal and Muckish mountains. The tomb has very large back and side stones, and the thin, leaning portal stones are around 2.5m (8ft 2in) high. The larger of the two roofstones, 3m (10ft) long, has fallen and leans against the western portal stone. Much of the cairn, some 24m (78ft) long, is still in evidence.

ARDMORE Alt Name: The Muff Stone

Standing Stone | Townland: Ardmore | Nearest Village: Muff

Map: C 4726 2642 | Sheet: D7 | Lat: 55.0828N | Long: 7.26074W

This fine rectangular block stands on a ridge overlooking Lough Foyle. It’s 2.25m (7ft 4in) high, and the southeast face is decorated with around 40 cup-marks, including numerous cup-and-rings. There’s one lonely cup-mark on the northeast face.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

DRUMSKINNY

Stone Circle | Townland: Drumskinny | Nearest Village: Kesh

Map: H 2009 7072 | Sheet: D12 | Lat: 54.58436N | Long: 7.69008W

An accessible and rather charming circle (although perhaps somewhat tamed by its neat grass and gravel surroundings), with 31 stones still standing of an original 39, and one fallen, the tallest reaching 1.8m (6ft). Some of the stones are modern replacements of lost originals. To the northwest is a small kerbed cairn some 4m (13ft) in diameter, and stretching south from this is a 15m (49ft) alignment of small stones.

Tyrone

DÚN RUADH Alt Name: The Red Fort

Ring Cairn | Townland: Dunroe | Nearest Village: Crouck

Map: H 6231 8453 | Sheet: D13 | Lat: 54.70491N | Long: 7.03424W

Although stones were taken from Dún Ruadh to build the school 450m (1,476ft) to the west, this is still an impressive site. An open cobbled area, defined by 17 stone uprights linked by dry-stone walling, is surrounded by the horseshoe-shaped remains of the cairn, which is itself surrounded by the bank and ditch of a henge. There is an entrance to the southwest, and a number of cists, some excavated in the 1930s, were found in the cairn. Excavation also found a Neolithic settlement beneath the henge and cairn. Open all year, but always ask permission from the owner of the farm located at the end of the lane leading from Crouck old school.

Nearby | At approximately H 6245 8530, around 744 metres (just under ½ mile) NNE of Dún Ruadh, is Cloghmore court tomb. At H 6178 8390, 814m (½ mile) WSW of Dún Ruadh, is Aghascrebagh ogham stone, with another standing stone around 30m (98ft) further on, at H 6167 8397.

DUNNAMORE Alt Name: Díarmuid and Gráinne’s Bed
Wedge Tomb | Townland: Dunnamore | Nearest Town: Cookstown

Map: H 6849 8088 | Sheet: D13 | Lat: 54.67136N | Long: 6.93914W

Despite the cart track that runs between the gallery and the kerb stones of the cairn, this is a well-preserved and impressive tomb, 14m (46ft) long, and with good views to the south and west. The portico retains its roofstone, and three large roof slabs remain on the main chamber.

BEAGHMORE

Megalithic Complex | Townland: Beaghmore | Nearest Town: Cookstown

Map: H 6844 8425 | Sheet: D13 | Lat: 50.69002N | Long: 6.93917W

In central Tyrone and east Fermanagh there are a number of circles with small stones and companion alignments of larger stones. Here at Beaghmore, on the edge of the Sperrin Mountains, there is a fascinating group of seven irregular circles of closely set stones (six in pairs) and nine or more stone rows or alignments, as well as a number of cairns, all of which was revealed by peat cutting in the 1930s. Some of the stones are just a few centimetres tall, while the tallest rise to 1.8m (6ft). The long rows all run to a cairn. The cairns seem to have preceded the circles. Low stone banks, perhaps derived from Neolithic field clearance, were found beneath some of the site’s features. Professor Clive Ruggles suggested a number of astronomical alignments, especially moon-focused ones, at this site.

BEAGHMORE A AND B

Beaghmore A is a 10.7m (35ft) circle with 54 stones. A number of stone rows are between Beaghmore A and Beaghmore B, which is a 12m (39ft) circle with 44 stones. The rows head to a cairn between the circles, where a porcellanite axe was found.

BEAGHMORE C AND D

Beaghmore C is 18m (59ft) in diameter but very misshapen. Impressive stone rows run to a cairn between it and the neighbouring 15m (49ft) Beaghmore D circle.

BEAGHMORE E

Known as the “Dragon’s Teeth”, Beaghmore E stands alone and is filled with hundreds of small, closely-set upright stones. On the eastern side, it incorporates an earlier cairn, to which a 30m (98ft) row leads. A cist under the cairn was found to contain fungus, moss and twigs, as well as a cremation.

BEAGHMORE F AND G

Beaghmore F and Beaghmore G both have a 9m (30ft) diameter, and a row runs between them to an embanked and ditched cairn. Beaghmore G has a pair of 1.2m (4ft) portal stones.

Nearby | Within 6km (3¾ miles) of this site there are more stone circles, stone rows, and tombs, which are too numerous to mention individually but include Beleevnabeg stone circle (at H 6913 8296) and row (at H 6935 8278), and the Davagh complex of tombs, stone circles and rows (around H 706 867).

SESS KILGREEN

Passage Grave | Townland: Seskilgreen | Nearest Village: Ballygawley

Map: H 6040 5843 | Sheet: D19 | Lat: 54.47235N | Long: 7.07132W

A badly damaged monument in a very damp site (bring your wellies), but the main draw here is the fine rock art, with lozenges and sets of concentric circles visible on two of the stones. In the next field (at H 6026 5861) is another heavily decorated slab (now eroded), said to be the reused capstone of a chamber. Ask for permission as the approach to the site is through a farm off the main road.

BALLYRENAN Alt Name: Cloghogle

Passage Grave | Townland: Ballyrenan | Nearest Village: Newtownstewart

Map: H 3733 8318 | Sheet: D12 | Lat: 54.69530N | Long: 7.421811W

There are two (or you might say three) portal tombs in this often overgrown and atmospheric setting. One is an unusual double tomb, with two capstones, both with possible cup-marks on their upper surfaces. One of the capstones has been lifted higher by a lintel stone balanced on two portals. On the other side of the cairn is another, smaller portal tomb, which has lost its capstone.

Armagh

SLIEVE GULLION Alt Name: Cailleach Beara’s House
Passage Grave | Townland: Slieve Gullion | Nearest Town: Newry

Map: J 0248 2033 | Sheet: D18 | Lat: 54.12187N | Long: 6.43338W

A stiff climb up Slieve Gullion (or Slieve na Calliagh) takes you to the highest passage grave on the island of Ireland, right at the top of the mountain, with outstanding views. It’s a very atmospheric place, the lintelled passage leading to a corbelled octagonal chamber, with an additional chamber or recess set in the wall opposite the entrance. The chamber is illuminated by the midwinter sunset. Cremated bone, a barbed and tanged arrowhead, and flint and chert flakes were found in the passage and chamber. In 2015 volunteers helped repair some of the damage done by weather and hillwalkers, with dislodged stones threatening to block the entrance. Cailleach Beara’s House is named for an aspect of the triple moon goddess, who is also referred to as the Hag (or Nun) of Beare, and is the subject of a famous Old Irish poem.

CLONTYGORA Alt Name: The King’s Ring

Court Tomb | Townland: Clontygora | Nearest Town: Newry

Map: J 0987 1942 | Sheet: D29 | Lat: 54.11217N | Long: 6.32081W

A badly damaged but still very dramatic site, in a prominent position. Many of the U-shaped forecourt’s uprights remain – these are massive, as are the side stones of the three-chambered gallery. A large roofstone, more than 3m (10ft) long, survives over one of the chambers. Cremated human bone, worked flint and pottery sherds were found during excavation. In view in the next field, about 90m (295ft) to the east, is what may have been a large wedge tomb, with eight stones surviving.

Nearby | At H 9953 2133, 10.5km (6½ miles) west of Clontygora, is Ballykeel portal tomb, an excellent example of a “tripod dolmen”, with the remnants of its cairn. The portal stones are 2m (6½ft) tall, and the roofstone is almost 3m (10ft) long. At the far end of the cairn is a cist, and two lines of stones are set within the cairn, parallel to the kerbs. A javelin head and a flint flake were found in the cist, and three Ballyalton ware decorated bowls in the chamber.

BALLARD LONGSTONE

Standing Stone | Townland: Milltown | Nearest Town: Newry

Map: J 0162 2337 | Sheet: D29 | Lat: 54.14935N | Long: 6.44551W

At just 1.4m (4½ft) high, the Ballard Longstone does not fully live up to its name, but the stone has a lovely pointed outline and the surrounding landscape is beautifully wild and unspoilt in feel.

Down

SLIEVE DONARD Alt Names: Ballagh Beg, The Great Cairn, The Greater Cairn
Passage Grave | Townland: Newcastle | Nearest Town: Newcastle

Map: J 3580 2769 | Sheet: D29 | Lat: 54.18023N | Long: 5.92073W

On the summit of Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest mountain, is this large cairn, some 36 × 43m (118 × 141ft) across and 1m (3ft 3in) high. It’s all that remains of a ruined passage tomb, the chamber entirely destroyed. Some larger stones, which may have been part of the structure, can also be seen. The views are wonderful, making the trek uphill, which can be hard going, well worth the effort. The central, well-defined cairn is a walkers’ cairn. A smaller cairn, known as “the Lesser Cairn” is some 200m (656ft) away to the northeast.

“The views from here are spectacular: with the clouds wisping around you, it truly feels like being on top of the world.” Nicki Lievense

BALLYNOE

Stone Circle | Townland: Ballynoe | Nearest Town: Downpatrick

Map: J 4813 4038 | Sheet: D21 | Lat: 54.29073N | Long: 5.72588W

This large circle, about 33m (108ft) across, contains more than 50 stones of varying heights up to 1.8m (6ft). Inside the circle is an arc of six standing stones supporting a raised platform; a 1.5m (5ft) high oval mound has also been built in the interior, edged with a kerb of uprights. Partial excavation in 1937 demonstrated that the mound is in fact a cairn, with a cist at either end, containing cremated bones. There are several outliers, including a pair on the western side that could mark an entrance. This seems to be aligned on the setting sun at equinox. At winter solstice the sun, seen from here, seems to slide down between the Mountains of Mourne, which form a fine backdrop to the circle.

Nearby | At J 562 503, 12.8km (8 miles) northeast of Ballynoe, is Audleystown court tomb, which is very similar in design to a Scottish Clyde cairn. It was only rediscovered in 1946 by the farmer and excavated to reveal the remains of 34 individuals.

LEGANANNY

Portal Tomb | Townland: Legananny | Nearest Village: Dromara

Map: J 2887 4340 | Sheet: D20 | Lat: 54.32305N | Long: 6.02016W

A spectacularly balanced “tripod dolmen” with fabulous views of the Mountains of Mourne. The angled capstone is 0.6m (2ft) thick and over 3m (10ft) long. The supporting stones are 2m (6½ft) and 1.8m (6ft) tall at the southern end, and one of them is missing a very distinctive L-shaped chunk.

BALLYNAHATTY Alt Name: The Giant’s Ring
Henge | Townland: Ballynahatty | Nearest City: Belfast

Map: J 3272 6770 | Sheet: D15 | Lat: 54.54024N | Long: 5.95011W

Just 6.5km (4 miles) south of central Belfast, this is a very impressive site, the circular bank (created from clay, boulders and gravel taken from the interior) reaching some 3.6m (11ft 8in) in height and surrounding an enclosure around 180m (590ft) across. There are five gaps or entrances, at least three of which are probably original. A burial chamber stands within the monument, slightly off centre, comprising five large boulders and a similarly hefty capstone.

Antrim

BALLYLUMFORD DOLMEN Alt Name: The Druid’s Altar
Portal Dolmen | Townland: Ballylumford | Nearest Village: Ballylumford

Map: D 4305 0160 | Sheet: D9 | Lat: 54.84175N | Long: 5.774W

A lovely bit of urban prehistory, this splendid burial chamber sits outside a house on the Ballylumford Road, surrounded by ornamental paving and a little chain fence. Despite this somewhat unprepossessing location, the site has a lot of character.

DOAGH

Holed Stone | Townland: Holestone | Nearest Village: Doagh

Map: J 2416 9068 | Sheet: D14 | Lat: 54.748756N | Long: 6.07247W

Set on an outcrop with fine views, this standing stone has a 0.1m (4in) hole around 0.9m (3ft) off the ground (it has been noted that this is about groin level). Historically, couples who wished to wed would hold hands or pass a handkerchief through the hole, and today newlyweds still visit the stone, and flowers are left here.

“There is a groove on the top of the stone, at right angles to the direction of the holes. If you look through this groove toward Belfast, it intersects with Ben Madigan (Napoleon’s Nose on the Cave Hill).” Tman

GALBOLY UPPER

Passage Graves | Townland: Galboly Lower | Nearest Village: Waterfoot

Map: D 2901 2445 | Sheet: D9 | Lat: 55.0507N | Long: 5.98221W

This area offers beautiful scenery, fine sea views and a number of passage graves to explore. At Galboly Upper, there are three graves, two ruinous but one in good condition. A further, smaller example can be found just over 500m (1,640ft) to the northeast (at approximately D 290 245), close to the road in Galboly Lower.

CRAIGS LOWER

Passage Grave | Townland: Craigs Lower | Nearest Village: Ballymoney

Map: C 9740 1728 | Sheet: D8 | Lat: 54.993462N | Long: 6.47904W

Close to the road, this charming passage grave has great views. The capstone sits on eight, closely set uprights, at a height of 1.7m (5½ft). The mound that covered the tomb was removed during the 19th-century excavation. The capstone was struck by lightning in 1976 and subsequently repaired.

Nearby | At D 0216 1830, 4.9km (3 miles) east of Craigs Lower is Ballymacaldrack court tomb, with a kerbed cairn containing an unusual southwest-facing chamber. The forecourt leading to the passage was added some 500 years after the main part of the structure was erected.

BLACK LOUGH

Standing Stones | Townland: Loughguile | Nearest Village: Loughguile

Map: D 0810 2347 | Sheet: D8 | Lat: 55.04684N | Long: 6.30957W

Black Lough II is a fine slab of basalt, 3.7m (12ft) high and 1.3m (4ft 3in) wide at the base. Two further stones can be found at D 0842 2328 and at D 0803 2369.

“Black Lough I is being used as a gatepost 107m (351ft) southeast of Black Lough II. Black Lough III stands 256m (840ft) northwest of Black Lough II.” Dick Glasgow

CULFEIGHTRIN

Standing Stones | Townland: Ballynaglogh | Nearest Town: Ballycastle

Map: D 1477 4076 | Sheet: D5 | Lat: 55.200631N | Long: 6.198263W

There are two basalt standing stones in the graveyard of St Patrick’s church in the parish of Culfeightrin. The taller, near the door of the church, is almost 3m (10ft); the other 1.6m (5ft 2in). A third stone lies 5.5m (18ft) to the NNW.

Nearby | At D 1473 3481, almost 6km (3¾ miles) south of the Culfeightrin stones, are the Duncarbit standing stones. Also known as the Slaught or Eoin-Ruaidh stones, they stand just 2m (6½ft) apart, and it’s thought they could be a portal and back stone of a destroyed portal tomb. Legend holds they mark the burial place of John Roe McDonnell, killed during the retreat from the Battle of Glenshesk.

Derry

CARNALRIDGE Alt Names: The White Wife, Cloghagalla
Standing Stone | Townland: Carnalridge | Nearest Town: Portrush

Map: C 8475 3872 | Sheet: D4 | Lat: 55.18829N | Long: 6.67018W

This whitewashed stone is known as the White Wife, a stone cemented on top providing her head. Despite being only 1.2m (4ft), it’s very prominently sited, so visible from some distance.

Further Reading & Resources

Archaeology

Bradley, R. 1998. The Significance of Monuments. London: Routledge

Burl, A. 2000. The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany. Yale: Yale University Press

Burl A. 1993. From Carnac to Callanish: Prehistoric Stone Rows of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. Yale: Yale University Press

Cummings, V. 2017. The Neolithic of Britain and Ireland. London: Routledge

Cunliffe, B. 2013. Britain Begins. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Harding, J. 2003. Henge Monuments of the British Isles: Myth and Archaeology. Stroud: The History Press

Hovell, G. 2009. Visiting the Past: A Guide to Finding and Understanding Britain’s Archaeology. Stroud: The History Press – one of the best simple introductions to the subject

Miles, D. 2016. The Tale of the Axe: How the Neolithic Revolution Transformed Britain. London: Thames and Hudson

Milligan, M. (photographer) and Burl, A (author) 1999. Circles of Stone. London: Harvill Press

Pitts, M. 2000. Hengeworld. London: Arrow

Pryor, F. 2003. Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland Before the Romans. London: HarperCollins

Stonehenge

Parker Pearson, M. 2012. Stonehenge: Exploring the Greatest Stone Age Mystery. London: Simon & Schuster

Parker Pearson, M. Pollard, J. Richards, C. 2015. Stonehenge: Making Sense of a Prehistoric Mystery. York: CBA

Richards, J. 2017. Stonehenge: The Story So Far. London: Historic England

Bowden, M. Soutar, S. Field, D. Barber, M. 2015. The Stonehenge Landscape: Analysing the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. London: Historic England

Cleal, R. Montague, R. Walker, K. 1999. Stonehenge in its Landscape: Twentieth-century Excavations. London: English Heritage (free download from Archaeology Data Service)

Regional Guides

Barnatt, J. Bevan, B. Edmonds, M. 2017. An Upland Biography: Landscape and Prehistory on Gardom’s Edge, Derbyshire. Oxford: Windgather Press

Bradley, R. & Nimura, C. (eds.) 2016. The Use and Reuse of Stone Circles: Fieldwork at Five Scottish Monuments and its Implications. Oxford: Windgather Press

Cooke, I. 1996 Journey to the Stones: Mermaid to Merrymaid – Ancient Sites and Pagan Mysteries of Celtic Cornwall. (out of print)

Darvill, T. 2004. Long Barrows of the Cotswolds & Surrounding Areas. Stroud: History Press

Field, D. McOmish, D. 2017. The Making of Prehistoric Wiltshire. Stroud: Amberley Publishing

Gerrard, S. 1997. The English Heritage Book of Dartmoor. London: Batsford

Gibson, A. 1997, 2005. Stonehenge and Timber Circles. Stroud: The History Press

Hedges, J.W. 1987. Tomb of the Eagles: Window on Stone Age Tribal Britain. New Amsterdam Books

Leary, J. & Field, D. 2010. The Story of Silbury Hill. London: Historic England

McDonald, N. 2012. Isle of Man, A Megalithic Journey. Carolina: Lulu.com

Marshall, S. 2016. Exploring Avebury. Stroud: History Press

Morgan, V & P, 2001. Rock Around the Peak: Megalithic Monuments of the Peak District. Sigma (out of print)

Morgan, V & P, 2004. Prehistoric Cheshire. Landmark (out of print)

Pollard, J. & Gillings, M. 2004. Avebury. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press

Ponting, G. 2000. Callanish. Glastonbury: Wooden Books

Pryor, F. 2010. Seahenge: A Quest for Life and Death in Bronze Age Britain. London: HarperCollins

Welfare, A. 2011. Great Crowns of Stone. Edinburgh: RCAHMS (now available as an ebook from Apple iTunes, and additional 280-page gazetteer and appendices downloadable from the Megalithic Portal)

Wickham-Jones, C. 2015. Between the Wind and the Water: World Heritage Orkney. Oxford: Windgatherer Press

Archaeoastronomy & Other Perspectives

Cope, J. 1998. The Modern Antiquarian. London: Thorsons

Devereux, P. Too many books to list – one being 1999. Places of Power: Measuring the Secret Energy of Ancient Sites. London: Cassell

Heart of Albion Press www.hoap.co.uk: many interesting books published by Bob Trubshaw – again too many to list

Heath, R. 2007. Alexander Thom, Cracking the Stone Age Code. Pembrokeshire: Bluestone Press

Hutton, R. 2015 Pagan Britain. Yale: Yale University Press

John, B. 2008. The Bluestone Enigma: Stonehenge, Preseli and the Ice Age. Pembrokeshire: Greencroft Books

Meaden, T. 2016. Stonehenge, Avebury and Drombeg Stone Circles Deciphered. Saarbrücken: Lambert Academic Publishing (Much of this is available online at oxford.academia.edu/TerenceMeaden)

Morris, J. 2013. Solving the Neolithic Universe. North Charleston: CreateSpace

Osman, S. 2010. Quicksilver, Serpent’s Gold. London: Marion Lloyd Books. Introduce your younger family members to ancient mysteries – I’m told some of the characters and ideas were inspired by the Megalithic Portal!

Ruggles, C. (ed) 1988, 2010. Records in Stone: Papers in Memory of Alexander Thom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Ruggles, C. 1999. Astronomy in Prehistoric Britain and Ireland. Yale: Yale University Press

Tilley, C. 1994. A Phenomenology of Landscape: Places, Paths and Monuments. Oxford: Berg

Wiseman, N. 2015. Stonehenge and the Neolithic Cosmos. Self-Published

Groups, Societies & Magazines

British Archaeology Magazine / Council for British Archaeology: www.archaeologyuk.org

Current Archaeology Magazine: www.archaeology.co.uk

The Prehistoric Society: www.prehistoricsociety.org

Lithic Studies Society: www.lithics.org

Megalithomania Conference and YouTube Channel: www.megalithomania.co.uk

Time and Mind – The Journal of Archaeology, Consciousness and Culture: published by Taylor and Francis Online

Northern Earth: www.northernearth.co.uk – pretty much the last small press “Earth Mysteries” magazine standing, along with Meyn Mamvro in Cornwall www.meynmamvro.co.uk

Phone & Tablet Apps

The Pocket Guide to Megaliths: the official Megalithic Portal app for iPhone and Android, www.megalithic.co.uk/app

Ancient Sites “Soundgate” app: explore Cave Acoustics and Stonehenge, Rupert Till / University of Huddersfield

Other Resources

Irish Stones CD-ROM ebook (Anthony Weir)

Standing with Stones video travelogue (Rupert Soskin and Michael Bott)

Stone Circles CD-ROM (Tom Bullock)

The Kilmartin Sessions: The Sounds of Ancient Scotland Audio CD (Kilmartin House Trust)

All of the above are available from www.megalithic.co.uk/shop

Free ebooks & Downloads

Academia.edu is a social networking site where members have uploaded many thousands of their own academic papers that otherwise languish in closed access journals. It is open to all to join.

Archive.org contains a vast archive of defunct web pages, so if you encounter a dead link while browsing, this is the place to try. It also has a comprehensive library of out of copyright books.

BAJR Guides and Resources – many freely downloadable guides and software resources at www.bajr.org/BAJRResources

Burns, G. & Nolan, J. 2017. Burren-Marlbank A Prehistoric Monumental Landscape Burren, Cavan: self-published free download from cavanburren.ie and The Megalithic Portal page for Giant’s Leap.

Harte, J. Research in Geomancy 1990–1994: Readings in Sacred Space, also Alternative Approaches to Folklore 1969–1996 download from www.hoap.co.uk/download.htm

Moshenska, G. (ed.) 2017. Key Concepts in Public Archaeology. London. UCL Press, Free download

Ruggles, C. & Cotte, M. (Eds) 2010, 2017. Heritage Sites of Astronomy and Archaeoastronomy in the context of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention: A Thematic Study – Introductions to Archaeoastronomical Sites around the World ICOMOS / Ocarina Books. Part 1 (2010) download from openarchive.icomos.org Part 2 (2017) download from ocarinabooks.com

Sidestone Press – many freely readable books online, many about continental European sites, but much applies to the UK as well: www.sidestone.com

Spikins, P & Wright, B. 2017. The Prehistory of Autism. Rounded Globe. Could the unique insights of people on the autistic spectrum have helped develop technologies and innovations in prehistory? Free download at roundedglobe.com in the History section

Tilley, C. & Cameron-Daum, K. 2017. An Anthropology of Landscape. London. UCL Press (free download)

There are many more free downloads and links at the Megalithic Portal, filed under News and Links.

Blogs & Websites

The Megalithic Portal www.megalithic.co.uk

Chris Collyer’s www.stone-circles.org.uk

Stone Pages www.stonepages.com

Sandy Gerrard’s stonerows.wordpress.com

Dave Parks’ www.dartmoorwalks.org.uk

Peter Knight Books/Tours www.stoneseeker.net

Kenneth Brophy’s Urban Prehistorian theurbanprehistorian.wordpress.com

Howard MR Williams’ Archaeodeath blog howardwilliamsblog.wordpress.com

The Northern Antiquarian megalithix.wordpress.com

Megalithic Ireland www.megalithicireland.com

Stonehenge All. stonehengealliance.org.uk

Heritage Action heritageaction.wordpress.com

The Modern Antiquarian www.themodernantiquarian.com

Tom FourWinds’ tour of Ireland www.megalithomania.com

Anthony Weir’s www.irishmegaliths.org.uk

Online Site Databases

With many thanks to the following for their information and assistance in the compilation of this book:

Canmore www.canmore.org.uk from Historic Environment Scotland www.historicenvironment.scot

Coflein www.coflein.gov.uk from National Monuments Record of Wales www.rcahmw.gov.uk

Pastscape www.pastscape.org.uk from Historic England www.historicengland.org.uk

Archaeological Survey Database from the National Monuments Service of Ireland www.archaeology.ie

Northern Ireland Sites and Monuments Record

England’s Rock Art archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/era/

CADW (Wales) www.cadw.gov.wales

English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk (including photo and document archive)

Many local Historic Environment Records (HERs) – too many to list – are searchable at the Archaeology Data Service www.archaeologydataservice.ac.uk as well as many “grey literature” reports, monographs and project archives

Geograph resource of geo-referenced photographs for Britain and Ireland www.geograph.org.uk

Flickr Photo Sharing www.flickr.com

Author Acknowledgements

Special thanks to:

Fiona Robertson, Jackie Bates, Francesca Corsini

Martyn Copcutt (TheCaptain), Simon Charles-worth (Sem), Anne Tate (AnneT) and Rune for assistance with planning.

Ruth, Lydia and Rowan

Thanks to the site selectors and checkers:

West of England: Martyn Copcutt with Tim Prevett (TimPrevett)

South of England: Amanda Peters (Coldrum) Midlands & East of England: Victoria Tuckman (Vicky) with Christine Clarke (Chrispy)

North of England: Anne Tate, Martyn Copcutt, Christine Clarke, Dr Cathryn Iliffe, Richard Stroud (Rich32) and Pat O’Halloran (Kelpie)

Isle of Man: Simon Charlesworth

Wales: Simon Charlesworth, Chris Bickerton (Postman) and Peter Boyle (PAB)

Scotland: Anne Tate, Christine Clarke, Ewen Rennie (Cosmic), Sandy Gerrard (SandyG), Martyn Copcutt, and Connor Motley (Coin)

Ireland: Anthony Weir, Rune, Christine Clarke and Jan Herold (Klingon)

Thanks to Mike Parker Pearson, Vicki Cummings and everyone who kindly contributed an article to this book (see Contents, pp.4–5, for details)

Also thanks to:

Mary M (Bat400), Howard MR Williams, Mick Miles, Dave Armstrong, Jim Leary, Sean Page, David Morgan, Martin Lenhart and all the people who generously allowed us to quote them and who sent in photographs.

Join the Megalithic Portal

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If you enjoyed this ebook and would like to find out about the megalithic and other prehistoric sites of Britain, the following regional ebooks are also available:

The Old Stones of the West of England 9781786782397

The Old Stones of the South, Midlands & East of England 9781786782441

The Old Stones of the North of England & Isle of Man 9781786782403

The Old Stones of Wales 9781786782410

The Old Stones of Scotland 9781786782427

You can also download the complete ebook:

The Old Stones: A Field Guide to the Megalithic Sites of Britain and Ireland
ISBN: 9781786782038

Also available as a book:

The Old Stones: A Field Guide to the Megalithic Sites of Britain and Ireland
ISBN: 9781786782434

The Old Stones of Ireland

The Megalithic Portal

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