Cairn

On fairly level ground on a plateau E of Slievenamon, on the edge of a break of slope which continues to fall S beyond the cairn and rises very gradually to N, in pasture. There is another cairn (KK030-047----) c. 50m to the SSE, with a lane running NW-SE between the two. The view is impeded by the rising slope to the N and to the NE by a ridge known as Drom Dearg. Otherwise the view is very good or extensive, with mountains visible to the E, hills to the SE, Kilmacoliver Hill to the S with the Comeragh Mountains beyond. To the SW the view is dominated by Slievenamon Mountain, with the cairn (TS078-001----) clearly visible on the summit and the view W is extensive over the rise in the field. A circular mound of stone (diam. 15.5m N-S; 17.8m E-W; H 1.13-1.5m) composed of local sandstone and some quartz stones. The cairn is best preserved in the S-SW sector. On the SW side the stone is not as visible, except for a large boulder on the top. On the N side stones are visible but it has been robbed out. There are the remains of an old boundary wall (Wth 1.5m; H 0.44m) running S from the cairn. The cairn has been the subject of much disturbance in the past, attributed to badger burrows and badger hunting. This is probably the cause of a depression on the top of the cairn to the S, in the E-NE sector where the robbed cairn has the appearance of a bank with depressions and off centre to the W where there is quite a deep depression (dims. 2.4m; D 0.56m) off centre to the W. The latter was a result of a trench dug many years ago by badger hunters. The landowner described how this had exposed a possible cist, consisting of thin slabs set on edge, which was backfilled, and another larger, thicker stone (L 1.03m; T 0.1-0.2m; H 0.3m above ground) which may have been a capstone but is now visible on its side, protruding from the robbed out cairn. The presence of a possible cist would suggest that this is a prehistoric burial cairn, however, it cannot be dated more precisely without archaeological excavation.