Building in Knockergrana

A standing stone is marked here on the OS 6-inch maps. It is 1.96m high. The stone stands in the midst of a large complex of stone field walls and stone enclosures some of which are buried under or sticking up out of the bog. It is not possible to say to what extent these are associated with, or are of similar date to, one another. A modern field boundary divides the area and is built of stone similar to those buried in the bog. It is likely that this was, at least in part, constructed by robbing the earlier structures. (b) S of the modern wall is a series of walls and enclosures all definitely associated. Some are buried up to 1m in the bog and have been revealed by probing. Other sections of this series are visible in turf cuttings and at the edges of the bog, where it is less deep and peters out. The series consists of a number of small 'fields' and two small oval cairns, 6m × 4m and 8m × 3m. A larger semicircle of stones to the N fades out on the S side of the modern field wall. It is now c. 32m in diameter. (c) To the N of the modern field boundary is a second series of walls and enclosures. These are distributed about the standing stone (a) above. W of this standing stone are three other stones standing in a roughly N-S line. To the S of these is a large circular stone enclosure c. 35m in diameter. A stone wall divides this enclosure N-S into an eastern 2/3 and a western 1/3. The wall stops c. 6m from the S side of the enclosure. On the N side, between the enclosure wall and the dividing wall, is a small sub-circular enclosure. There is a second small enclosure just outside the main large enclosure. There are a number of stretches of field walls to the N, W and E, and four small enclosures associated with these. The turf has been removed in this area and it is not possible to say with certainty that these features predated its growth. (d) Further N on the same hill are a number of other field walls with an associated rectangular foundation. These are situated in rough boggy terrain but it is not possible to say whether or not they predate the bog, which has been largely cut away in this area. The whole complex is situated on a small hill in bogland which has been partly reclaimed. It is located c. 400m E of Knockergrana Court-tomb (29) and c. 250m E of a cup-marked boulder (654). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008