Re: Ballingowan Henge | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

T

tiompan Jul 31, 2008 11:01:41

Replying to bawn79

bawn79 wrote:

Cloch Mor wrote:

Now that got my attention. I spend a while around Clogher
(Ballimacelliot) a few years ago doing a field project. The area you mention
was not near me, also the N22 Tralee bypass / Tralee to Bealagrellagh
runs very close to the spot you mention.
At http://www.kerrycoco.ie/Roads/2552%20Main%20Report%20Volume%202.pdf You will find a report on the N22 Tralee bypass and in it is the
reporting of monuments are listed, but it does mention a ring
barrow at Ballingowan on page 236 of the report. In fact from pg 229
onwards there is a lot of mention of Archeology.
It would appear that it was not on the proposed route so I assume if
there is no visable site above ground they do not bother with it.
Not sure if you would see much now as there would have been a lot of
plant tracking back and forth during the construction of the road.
I hope to be down that way towards end of August so I may take a look
myself.
Hope this helps in some way.

Just read thru the report, its tricky to visualise what they are at without a map.
Clock Mor you are obviously familar with the area. It mentions a hill-top enclosure / henge near ballycarty. I wonder could this be it?
If you are down that way at the end of August and we can figure out where this monument is, it might be worth a look.

I wonder does anyone have the Winter edition of Archaeology Ireland 1998, it might put this to bed once and for all.

Basically I was curious about it to see how accurate the archaeology.ie website is (its not included on it) plus well I wanted to get an idea for the accuracy of the evidence of the authors of Uriels Machine. It just seemed pretty random to use an obscure site in ireland as backup to their argument that you could use a submerged henge for astronomical observations.
Plus well I love henges, they are such cool monuments, would love to see more in Ireland. Arch.ie has two other henges listed in Kerry and I was thinking about making a Co. Kerry henge trip some day.

Can't help with the siting of the henge bawn but I share your concerns ,if henges had been built to provide artificial horizons why pick on one so obscure .They tend to be eastern in the UK does this suggest that there was no need or interest in astronomy in the west ? I read the book a few years ago and found a need for large doses of salt . If you want a real laugh , one of the authors , Knight ,co-wrote a belter "Civilisation One " which has the kind of claims that would make Von Daniken blush .

C

Cloch Mor Jul 31, 2008 15:34:07

Replying to bawn79

Right then,
I went on the Archaeology.ie and keyed in the Site number KE038-022
and panned in and out and shook it all about. Finally I have it.

The map is a number of years old, there is a new road running in
place of the one on the map, it follows a more dirct route into Tralee.

From Castleisland head toward Tralee. You will eventually come see a small bridge for the train and a roundabout. When you pass the
roundabout you will see a hotel, The Earl of Desmond. That is the building
on the map that the complex, shall we say is sighted, right behind it.
When you zoom to the hotel it shows the land behind liable to flooding.
There is a small stream there alright.

C

Cloch Mor Jul 31, 2008 15:51:49

Replying to bawn79

Right then,
I went on the Archaeology.ie and keyed in the Site number KE038-022
and panned in and out and shook it all about. Finally I have it.
This says Ballycarty on the map, but the SMR number list on the
report said henge. I will look at Ballingowan later as I am not sure if
that is still there or built over I know the one in Ballycarty is still there.

The map is a number of years old, there is a new road running in
place of the one on the map, it follows a more dirct route into Tralee.

From Castleisland head toward Tralee. You will eventually come see a small bridge for the train and a roundabout. When you pass the
roundabout you will see a hotel, The Earl of Desmond. That is the building
on the map that the complex, shall we say is sighted, right behind it.
When you zoom to the hotel it shows the land behind liable to flooding.
There is a small stream there alright.

To get to it is a task and a half. I was looking for the Passage tomb
there a few years ago, as a passage tomb in this location is a rarity.
I found it hard to "Sneak" into the area as is is on farm land and as
far as I remember pretty much open ground.

However, since the path of the road moved slightly the area is a bit more
cut off. If you drive past the Earl of Desmond you will see a memorial on
the right and a sign for Bally seedy castle to the left, take that road to the entrance of Ballyseedy(its a hotel so you can drive in if you wish).
And depending on how high the council have let the hedges grow you
should be able to see the complex to your left.
Thats how I read the map anyway. After that it's up to you how best
to gain access.

Perhaps for more info you should call into the Library in Tralee and go
up stairs to the maps and records, the people I dealt with could'nt do
enough for me when I was there.

See how you get on.