The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Fieldnotes by bogman

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Showing 1-20 of 53 fieldnotes. Most recent first | Next 20

Coolnatullagh (Wedge Tomb)

Smallest wedge tomb I have seen in a long time, condition, reasonable

Drumanone (Portal Tomb)

Correct GPS co-ordinates for Drumanone are
53.97019 N
08.35432 W

Otherwise you will find yourself at the other side of the railway line

Clogher (Stone Fort / Dun)

The coordinates given are incorrect, it is almost impossible to find as in the middle of a very wooded area, you need to turn right inside the gate and walk about 100m before heading perpendicular to the road

Correct GPS co-ordinates are
53.93443 N
08.51391 W

Caherconree (Stone Fort / Dun)

On my must visit list, too late to make it this time, may take up to 90 minutes to climb the mountain, when weather is good its possible to see Loop head in Co. Clare from the fort

Ballybrittas (Portal Tomb)

Locals were a good help directing me to this, continue up the unpaved track just beyond the yard full of old vehicles, take the gate to the left and continue all the way to the end of the field, the portal is just about visible, almost hidden in the gorse, looks like it hadn't been visited in a long time, cleared a path around the tomb
Exact location
52.25.44.3 N 06.38.12.7 W

Cullaba Lake (Standing Stones)

Two standing stones at the end of a stony pathway beyond a water treatment plant, please close the gates, the stones are adjacent to each other next to a lovely lake with beautiful scenery, very secluded settings

http://wikimapia.org/7874044/Cullaba-Hill-603m

Ballymihil (Wedge Tomb)

This lies just off a track accessed next to an abandoned farmhouse on the the main road, make sure to close all the gates, if you continue another 1.5km to the end of the track its reasonably easy to find Boloona Wedge tomb about 500m distant

Carrickavrantry (Wedge Tomb)

Difficult to find unless you know where to look, take the narrow boreen to the right just beyond a farmhouse, continue for around 300m and before the track veers 90 degrees the wedge tomb lies to the right just behind a high ditch (you can just about make out the capstone but it barely resembles one) very overgrown

Gruta do Escoural (Cup and Ring Marks / Rock Art)

Closed for business unless you want to make a telephone call and organise a viewing, not to worry, plenty to see nearby

Magheracar (Passage Grave)

Magheracar is perched almost right at the edge of a small cliff and risks being washed away by a big storm at any time, very fragile indeed

Cashelbane (Cairn(s))

Two fine sites a few minutes apart by car, again both well signposted with easy access and good parking

Temple of Deen (Court Tomb)

This gem of a site lies less than one km from the more well known Bocan stone circle, a local pointed it out to me and it was of the highlights of my two week trip to the north west, access again is no problem here

Claggan (Wedge Tomb)

Stunning location less than a mile from Claggan Court tomb (thanks for the land owner there for informing me about this site) Tory island is visible from the top of the hill, spent two hours relaxing here, wonderful place and as with the court tomb down the road, easy access

Inishkeel Monastic Site

Founded by Saint Connell in the 6th century the island of Inishkeel is accessible by foot at low tide, Inishkeel lies just off the village of Naran, you should have about two and three hours to walk around here before the island gets cut off again, the site in question lies near the sandbar at the east side of the island.
The site contains the ruins of two churches, a walled graveyard with some wonderful carved slabs and stones

[Sorry Bogman. Although interesting this is rather too modern for TMA unless you can give it some prehistoric provenance.

TMA Ed.]

Doonfeeny cross pillar (Standing Stone / Menhir)

This 18 foot tall square pillar is visible for a good distance and is located in an old graveyard 2 miles outside Ballycastle and is pre Christian

Castletown (W) (Court Tomb)

Unlike Castletown E 300m distant this site lies largely under the peat most of the exposed parts are about 4 inches over the ground, took me 45 mins to find, actual co_ordinates are 54.28763 N and 09.28374W, 3 court tombs are very close to each other with good parking and are easy to get to

Caherphuca (Wedge Tomb)

The second most neglected megalith that I have seen in this country, what a disgrace

Craughaun Cemetery (Wedge Tomb)

In the graveyard in Craughaun, there was a wedge tomb called the Ballinphunta dolmen. Due to the extension of the graveyard, the tomb was excavated in 1990 by a group led by Brian Hodkinson. However, they only found pieces of modern pottery. FÁS workers erected a replica of this tomb in the new section of the graveyard.

http://www.limerickdioceseheritage.org/Cratloe/gyCratloe.htm


Progress.............not!

Knappogue N (Standing Stone / Menhir)

This single stone is about 200m N/W from the nearby group of 3

Bawnfree Hill (Passage Grave)

Tired and cold by the time I got here, after a motorcycle rally last night, that combined with having visited a few other sites earlier and also having a chest infection stopped me from staying longer, a local farmer took me to the site in his car when he noticed me walking up the track, observed that this site was possibly completely covered by stones in the past like a cairn, the farmer agreed saying that in the past a lot of ditches in the locality were made years ago by these, strange site, never saw the like, in places it looks like there is a double stone circle surrounding the monument, beautiful views, will return during the summer to this strange place
Showing 1-20 of 53 fieldnotes. Most recent first | Next 20

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