Wedge tomb in Gragan East

At the head of a narrow valley in partially reclaimed pasture but with some scrub cover. Comprehensively recorded by the Megalithic Survey (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1961, 5-6) but unlocated when inspected in 1999. Described by the Megalithic Survey, as a moderately well-preserved, wedge-shaped tomb – in dense overgrowth - comprising a SW-orientated chamber (L 2.25m NE-SW; Wth at rear (NE) 1.25m; Wth at front (SW) c. 1.65m) surrounded by remnants of an outer wall (L c. 5m; Wth at front c. 4m) and a cairn (diam. c. 8m; max. H 0.5m). The chamber consisted of northern and southern sidestones and a backstone. The S-sidestone (L 2.6m; T 0.1-0.3m) stood erect and had a flat top that rose steeply toward its front (H at rear 0.8m; H at front 1.25m). A small packing stone was set in the chamber near its rear end. The N-sidestone (L 2.35m) leaned out at a c. 45-degree angle and was consequently not as high (H at rear 0.75m; H at front 1m). The backstone (L 1.25m; H 0.8m) had both of its top corners removed and sat flush with the N-sidestone but there was a gap (Wth 0.1-0.2m) between it and the S-sidestone. There were two displaced stones, one S of the S-sidestone (L 0.8m) and another (L 1.25m) leaning on the backstone. Three slabs in the chamber (max. L 0.75m) may have been remnants of the capstone. The tomb chamber appears to have been enclosed by a slightly larger, wedge-shaped outer wall (L c. 5m; Wth at front c. 4m). Seven slabs of the outer wall were recorded: a single slab (L 0.9m; H 0.35m) was set c. 1.1m behind the chamber’s backstone. Two slabs (L 0.95m; H 0.5m and L 0.55m; H 0.8m) survived to the N of the chamber’s N-sidestone, two more slabs to the S of the chamber’s S-sidestone (L 1m; H 0.4m and 1.15m; H 0.25m) and two slabs (L 1m; H 0.8m and L 0.8m; H 0.55m), set 0.35m apart, formed part of a flat façade to the front of the tomb. The low, surrounding cairn was roughly circular (diam. c. 8m; max. H 0.5m) and there were some loose slabs (max. L 1m) lying to its W. See attached image: CL005-091----_01 Photo of tomb from the Megalithic Survey. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 16 January 2023