Cairn

Situated in a relatively flat area within an extensive field system (MA084-001001-) on the exposed commonage at the extreme western end of the island. An earthfast stone, 1.5m to SE of the cairn, bears an artificial cup mark (MA084-010----). The cairn consists of a small, low mound of loose stones and small boulders roughly circular in plan (E–W 6.6m, N–S 6.5m). Rising to a maximum height of 0.5m above the surrounding ground surface, it is flat or even slightly dished in profile. A number of large angular boulders appear to delimit it at intervals from SE through S to W. However, none of these are well set, although all of them project slightly above the cairn. One striking example is a large flat slab (L 1.1m × H 0.6m × T 0.2m) to S. Another, of similar character (L 1.1m × H 0.6m × T 0.15m), protrudes from the cairn close to its eastern limits. Although the latter would appear to form the western side of a small hollow, any resemblance to a ruined chamber may well be entirely fortuitous. A much ruined turf stack lies only 1m to ESE of the cairn: much of its fabric is probably derived from it. At S, a low, smooth, grass covered ridge-like feature (Wth 2.5–3m × H 0.6m) extends from the edge of the cairn for c. 2m before petering out in a jumble of stones that form part of the turf stand. The cup-marked boulder (MA084-010----) lies at base of this ridge on its southern side. The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018

A Neolithic cairn; its significance lies in the presence of a cupmarked stone nearby, indicating ritual or ceremonial activity associated with the site.