Giants Grave (1952–4) — Knocknashangan

This monument stands toward the SE end of a broad ridge in rolling pasture. It is 1km S of the River Erne and commands an extensive outlook across the river basin. There is a more restricted outlook to the S and E. The surviving structure consists of two orthostats lying E-W. These seem to represent the side of a gallery at least 6.2m long. The orthostats stand in a substantially levelled, low, subrectangular mound that survives to the E of a field fence crossing the W end of the structure. It measures 12m E-W and narrows from 17m wide at the W to 13m at the E. A drop in ground level of 0.3m defines the edge of the mound. Apart from a small piece of outcropping rock to the E of the eastern orthostat, the mound is entirely grass grown. The eastern orthostat is 1.3m high. The western, slightly N of the line of the eastern one, is 0.95m high. A loose slab, 0.3m N of this, lies at the edge of the field fence crossing the site and measures 1.45m by 0.95m by 0.25m thick. Three stones, one to the N and two to the S of the western orthostat, shown in Holly's (1975-6) plan of the monument are quite loose and do not form part of the structure. According to mid-19th-century OS documents, the surviving orthostats represent the S side of the monument, the opposite side of which had been removed before then (Fagan 1845-8; OS Revision Name Book, 1847-50). These stones clearly formed part of a substantial E-W-aligned megalithic gallery, but it is not possible to classify it. G.H.R. 1834-5, 'The Giant's Grave' (sketch); Fagan 1845-8, book 17, 36; OS Revision Name Book, sheet 107 (1847-50), 28; Allingham 1879, 108-9 (Rockfield); H. Morris 1947, 41, no. B11 probably refers; Holly 1975-6, 197-8 (plan); Ó Nualláin 1983a, 45, no. 132; SMR 1987, 107:89; Ó Nualláin 1989, 142; RMP 1995, 107:89. 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 See linked document with details from Eamon Cody, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume VI. County Donegal. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002)