Ecclesiastical site in Coumduff

This site occupies an area of open ground in the centre of the village of Knockane, about three-quarters of a mile S of Lough Anscaul. The precise nature of the site and its original outline and extent are uncertain, but its chief features are an Early Christian cross-slab and 4 probable graves, two of which are box-like arrangements of stones, not unlike megalithic cists. These graves are located on a small level tract of ground, c. 38m E-W x c. 10.5m N-S, which is defined along its N side by a gentle scarp c. 0.5m high, on its E side by a stream, on its S side by a steep scarp c. 1.5m high, and on its W side by a disturbed area occupied by a number of low banks. The site is used as a general dumping ground and, though its original limits are not known, it may also have been disturbed by the field fence which, until 1985, extended along its S side, and by the road which bounds its W and NW sides. The cross-slab stands in a secondary position, formerly embedded into the S side of the field fence (but now free-standing). Graves: (1) The westernmost grave consists of a 3-sided, rectangular arrangement of stones, open to E and measuring 1.4 x 1.3m internally. The sides are each formed by a single large slab, up to .55m high, set on edge in the ground. A large prostrate slab lying W of the grave may have been a capstone, and several other stones on edge to W and S of the grave may be part of similar structures. (2) A similar box-like arrangement of 4 stones, up to .5m high, lies 11m to E of (1). It measures 1.15m x .83m internally and its open S side opens directly onto the upper edge of the scarp that defines the S side of the site. A 5th stone is set on edge directly to W. (3) About 5m to N of (2) is a low mound into which are set 2 parallel slabs, .2m apart and up to .3m high; 3 further stones are visible at the NW edge of the mound. (4) The easternmost grave is marked by a large boulder which overlies a cavity or depression. A line of 4 small stones on edge emerges from under the stone at E and runs SW for .8m. The original context of the graves is not certain and they have been interpreted both as megalithic cists (Henry 1937, 776) and as ceallúnach graves (Fanning 1981, 149). An Early Christian presence at the site is indicated by the cross-slab and by a 2nd possible grave-slab, now missing, and the graves may relate either to this phase or to a later reuse of the site as a calluragh burial ground. However, the large size of the stones used is not typical of Christian burials and, perhaps, the suggestion that the structures may be megalithic cists should not be dismissed entirely. They have, however, been rejected as megalithic tombs by the Megalithic Survey of Ireland. Cross-slab (KE044-019004-): A slab measuring 1.1 x .94m is inscribed on one face with a cross of arcs, pendant from the lower arm of which is a plain stem. A loop at the right side of the upper arm represents a monogram form of the Chi-Rho symbol. Inscribed-slab (KE044-019005-): An inscribed stone fragment from the site was presented to UCC in 1939 but its present whereabouts is not known. One surface bore 4 letters or symbols but the rubbing published by O'Connell (1939b, 45) does not help to clarify what these represent. A loom-weight was found on the site at the same time. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 831. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013