Cromlechs — Parknabinnia

On a NW-facing slope in a flat field at the SE end of the central Burren plateau and within an extensive multiperiod field system (CL017-180----). This is the most southerly wedge tomb in a group of four wedge tombs (see also CL016-061001-, CL016-061002- and CL016-061004-) and a quarry (CL016-061005-). The wedge tombs are collectively identified as ‘cromlechs’ on the 1840 and 1916 OS 6-inch maps. Described by O’Donovan in 1839 as one of ‘three cromleachs in the same field, one of which is prostrate’ (Comber 1997, 20). Described by Westropp (1898, 357) as ‘a small cist’ (3.6m; 2.4m) ‘nearly embedded in a mound, and surrounded by seven slabs’ (H 0.91m). The measurements for the monument were later rectified by Westropp (1905, 214) who clarified that ‘the dimensions refer to its mound and circle of slabs - ‘This cist, in fact, is of three slabs, each only a little over 5 feet long; the east slab has either been removed or its place was taken by a block in the outer ring near the end of the side slabs’. The site is included in the ‘Reabachan Group of Dolmens’ (Westropp 1907, 464). This site is recorded in the Megalithic Survey as CL. 62 (De Valera and Ó Nualláin 1961, 51-2) and the following details are drawn from there. A wedge tomb with a poorly preserved WSW-ENE aligned, partially collapsed chamber (est. L c. 2m) in the centre of a mound (10m E-W; 9m N-S). The N sidestone (L 2m; H 0.9m at W end; H 0.7m at E; T 0.15m) of the chamber is dressed along the top edge and the S sidestone of the chamber has collapsed inwards (L 1.95m) and lies under the displaced roofstone. A closing stone at the W (L 1.8m; H 1m; T c. 0.1-0.15m) remains in position but leans outwards and extends beyond the N sidestone. A slab at the E end of the chamber (L 0.75m; H 0.55m; T 0.1m) may be a backstone but may also be part of the outer-walling which surrounds the chamber. The roofstone (L 2.1m; Wth 1.75m at W; Wth 1.3m at E; T 0.15-0.2m) rests on the N sidestone and slopes to the S where it disappears into the mound. The outer-walling which surrounds the chamber is best preserved at the S where three stones remain in position and comprise a stone at E (L 0.8m; H 0.7m; T 0.15m), a middle stone (L 0.85m; H 0.5m; T 0.1m) and a stone at W (L 0.6m; H 0.65m; T 0.15m), all of which lean outwards. A curved line of stones surrounds the W end of the chamber and comprises a S stone (L 0.6m; H 0.8m; T 0.1m), a middle stone (L 1.15m; est. H 0.7m) which is almost prostrate and a third stone (L 0.95m; H 0.9m; T 0.15m). There are two stones to the N of the chamber, the most westerly of which (L 0.55m; H 0.3m; T 0.1m) is loose and the most easterly of which (L 1.05m; T 0.1m; est. H 0.9m) leans outwards and may be displaced (De Valera and Ó Nualláin 1961, 51-2). This wedge tombs is part of the Roughan hill group which fall within the four townlands of Parknabinnia, Leana, Caherfadda and Commons North and have been acknowledged as the densest concentration of wedge tombs in Ireland (Jones et al. 2015, 5). Excavations carried out at three wedge tombs in the area, CL017-180002- (Ó Maoldúin 2015), CL016-061002- (Ó Maoldúin 2017) and CL017-009---- (Ó Maoldúin 2022) have confirmed their date of construction as Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age (Ó Maoldúin pers. comm.). This wedge tomb is located c. 224m to the SSE of Jones’ (2011, 38) Farm RH2 (enclosures CL016-173001- and CL016-173----) and c. 328m to the SE of Jones’ (2011, 39) Farm RH5 (three conjoined enclosures CL016-174----, CL016-177---- and CL016-165----). These farms are two of four sites (RH1, 2, 5 & 7) within 200m of each other which are Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age habitation enclosures set within contemporary field systems defined by mound walls (Jones at. al 1996; Jones et al. 2011; Jones et al. 2015). The following item has been uploaded: CL016-061003-_01.pdf Details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961) Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 27 July 2022