Burial in Coumduff

KE044-019---- occupies an area of open ground in the centre of the village of Knockane, about three-quarters of a mile S of Lough Anscaul. 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. 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