Former Carrowkeel Cromlech — Quigley's Point

This feature is named 'Cromlech' on the original OS 6-inch map (1833-4). There are no visible remains at the site. It is described as 'the druidical remains of an altar' in an OS Name Book (1833-4) and 'Druid's Altar' in the OS Memoirs (1833), although no further details are provided. According to the OS Memorandums (1834-42), it was pointed out to Lieutenant T.A. Larcom, officer in charge at the Ordnance Survey, and George Petrie, head of the historical and antiquarian department of the Survey, when they visited the area in 1835. Whatever the nature of this feature, it had apparently been removed by 1848, as it is named 'Site of Cromlech' on the OS 6-inch map of that date. OS Memoirs, Upper Moville parish (1833) [4]; OS Name Book, Upper Moville parish (1833-4), 19; OS Memorandums (1834-42), 137; Borlase 1897, 229, Inishowen East no. 9 (Borlase mistakenly suggested that this is the 'cromlech' at Condum Beg recte Drung, App. 1, No. 47, noted by Doherty 1891, 26); Colhoun 1949, 117; Killanin and Duignan 1962, 380; Killanin and Duignan 1967, 381; Ó Nualláin 1983a, 46, no. 143; SMR 1987, 30:13; Colhoun 1995, 76; RMP 1995, 30:13. The above description was published in the 'Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume VI, County Donegal.' Compiled by: Eamon Cody (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). Date of upload: 22 September 2008 Excavation licence number 99E0646 Testing was carried out on the site of the proposed development of a dwelling-house, driveway, septic tank and related percolation area in the vicinity of the site of a possible megalithic tomb at Carrowkeel, Co. Donegal, 1?4 mile north of Quigley's Point and c. 500m north-east of the shore of Lough Foyle. The site is on low ground in an area of rich pasture. Testing was carried out on 19 November 1999. Using a wide, toothless trenching bucket, nine test-trenches were excavated. The natural, stony subsoil was sealed by a series of narrow bands of silts, gravels and sands. These strata in turn underlay a deposit of small to medium-sized stones, sod and topsoil. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted. (Excavations Bulletin 1999) Declan Moore, 8 Yewland Green, Renmore, Galway. Excavation licence number 99E0679 ext. Between 6 January and 8 January 2001 monitoring of construction works took place on the site of the proposed development of eleven two-storey semi-detached dwelling-houses, sewage treatment plant and associated services and access road at Quigley's Point, Carrowkeel, Co. Donegal. The proposed development is located on a south-south-west-facing slope at the base of which there is an enclosed children's burial-ground or cillín. Nothing of archaeological interest was observed during pre-development archaeological testing carried out in 1999 (Excavations 1999, No. 132). Subsequently monitoring of topsoil-stripping was recommended as part of a planning condition. The underlying geology consisted of sands, gravels and silts. These strata consistently overlay a compact yellowish-brown sandy boulder clay and sandstone with quartz pebbles and gritty pelitic schist bedrock exposed at the base of excavations. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted during the course of monitoring. (Excavations Bulletin 2001) Declan Moore, Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services Ltd, 200 Dún na Coiribe, Galway.