Loughcrew Complex forum 11 room
Image by ryaner
close
more_vert

Hi Buck

Somewhere I do have a couple of images of the Loughcrew hills from around and about, but the main problem with them is that they are actually very low - they just happen to be the highest things in a very flat region. This low-lying-ness makes the hills very difficult to see from many angle because one tree and they're blocked from view.

I am heading that way again soonish because I want to finally go up onto Patrickstown Hill and also to the ruined stone circle to the north.

There was a full Lidar* survey done of Loughcrew and surroundings last year, but I doubt the images will hit the public domain for quite some time.

*Lidar is where very accurate GPS/radar scans are done from from a plane and then aerial photos are mapped onto the resulting contours. It's pretty amazing stuff! All the hedges, every stone and bump comes to life. You can then take virtual tours around the area. I WANT ONE!

Lidar stuff; There is a GPS mapper programme in the the new BA magazine, feed the measurements of stone circles into your GPS and then transfer by cable to programme on your computer which will give an approximate shape. The programme comes free at the moment from "astronomy.crysania.co.uk". Do not use GPS at moments of high international tension, apparently they (military) can scrabble them a bit, GPS have a built in component for such times. Moss (non technical but always wanted to own one of those things)

p.s.also interesting article on Carrowmore, arguing that the date on tomb 7 can be pushed back to 4320-3810bc...

Hey thank you for the info FWs; I think I will have to follow your lead and try and get there in person. Images of the remains of Cairns X1, X2 and X3 at Patrickstown Hill would be ace and interesting to see - especially the 'sun-splash' or 'sun-dial' stone.

I read the Shell and Roughley article in 'Archaeology Ireland', and LiDAR looks top dog!

Good luck with the trip and look forward to seeing the results if ya post them here or on your site.

Cheers again, Buck.