What is recorded here

Knockloon Hill in County Clare holds a ring-barrow where cremated bone and a white flint arrowhead marked Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age deaths. A standing stone later rose at the centre, drawing further burials, feasting and possibly glass bead work as late as the sixth to ninth century. The hill has kept layered human attention for thousands of years, changing from funeral ground to gathering place while preserving the shape of that first loss.

Situated on top of Knockloon Hill. A ring-barrow partially excavated by the Irish Fieldschool of Prehistoric Archeology (NUIG) in 2018 (Ó Maoldúin 2020). Excavation revealed a sequence of activity stretching from the Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age to the modern day. The Chalcolithic/EBA activity identified was funerary in nature, comprising depositions of small deposits of cremated bone accompanied by artefacts including a small white flint barbed and tanged arrowhead. Four white flint flakes were also found on the barrow possibly representing one knapping episode. The excavation of the barrow ditch may have contributed to the raising of the interior however the majority of upcast material appears to have been used to construct the external bank. A standing stone was erected centrally at some point. Prior to excavation just a small portion protruded above the grass. More cremation deposits were placed around this, apparently as late as the 6th-9th century AD. Other activity that occurred on the barrow during this time appears to have included feasting and possible glass bead production. Radiocarbon dates will follow to determine the sequence of fills in the ditch and the activity in the centre of the barrow. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 13 October 2020

A Neolithic ring-barrow, dating to the Early to Middle Neolithic period (c. 3900–3000 BCE), associated with burial and ritual practices in the Knockloon Hill landscape. Its partial excavation has provided insights into early prehistoric funerary traditions in the region.

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