Giant Grave — Cohaw

Situated towards the bottom of a S-facing slope with a drumlin rising c. 300m to the SW and it is at the head of a small NW-SE valley. This dual court tomb was excavated by H. E. Kilbride-Jones in 1949 (1951). Aligned N-S, both tombs were within the same cairn (dims 24.5m N-S; c. 13.5m E-W). The court at N is U-shaped (dims 6.4m E-W; 4.6m N-S) while the perimeter of the southern court describes two-thirds of a circle (diam. c. 5.5m). The excavator recorded two banks overlying four post-holes closing the N court while a row of three post-holes could have closed the S court. Sockets provide evidence of facades linking both courts to the E kerb of the cairn represented now by a few kerbstones but numerous sockets were recorded in excavation. No evidence of the W side of the cairn was recovered. Each gallery (Wth 1.3-1.75m) is divided by jambs and a low sill into two chambers, the outer in each case being longer and wider than the inner. At the N the outer chamber (L c. 3m) leads to a shorter inner chamber (L c. 2.25m), while at the S the outer chamber is c. 2.6m long and the inner is c. 2.15m. A closed central chamber (L 2.25m) links the ends of both galleries, although it is represented by sockets on the W side. Evidence of paving was noted in the N court and some of the chambers. Traces of fires were also found in some of the chambers. The cremated and inhumed bones in the front chamber of the S gallery and a few teeth found in the closed central chamber during the excavation represent at least three individuals. Part of a Neolithic pottery bowl was also recovered in the outer chamber of the S gallery. (Kilbride-Jones 1951, 75-88; de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1972, 122-3, No. 22) This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 179/1946), and is a National Monument in state guardianship (No. 456) accessed from the R191 Shercock to Cootehill oad c. 60m to the S, but there is no convenient safe parking. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. See the attached views: _1 from NE; _2 from NW; _3 from SW; _4 from S Date of revision: 27 July 2018 See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume III. Counties Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Laoighis, Offaly, Kildare, Cavan. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1972).