Megalithic tomb in Newtown Little (rathdown By., Glencullen Ed)

Cairn of possible megalithic tomb unclassified known locally as 'Ossian's Grave' was recorded by James Kyle in 2003 while carrying out an archaeological survey of the lands at Newtown and Glencullen.  He correctly suggested that the location of the cairn listed in the Dublin RMP as DU025-047003- and was marked in the wrong location.   Cairn of possible megalithic tomb described by James Kyle as follows; 'Located 100m southeast of the Rathín, to the immediate west of a mature Hawthorn tree were the apparent remains of a robbed out megalithic tomb, which is suggested to be the tomb referred to as Ossian’s Grave by the 1837 O.S. letters and folklore. The monument is roughly kite/wedged shape in plan, with surviving kerb stones evident around much of the perimeter of the cairn. The tip of the wedge is oriented to the southeast and this would appear to suggest the most likely candidate for the original entrance to the tomb was at the wider, northwest end. The overall impression from the remains of this megalithic tomb suggests that it was possibly a wedge tomb-type megalith, and it was depicted by only the 1837 O.S. mapping and it is not listed as an RMP or present on the SMR or the 1910 mapping' (Kyle 2023, 21-2).     Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by James Kyle

Megalithic tomb, likely Neolithic in date. Its local name 'Ossian's Grave' suggests a later folk association, but the structure itself represents an early prehistoric funerary tradition.