Stone Circle — Loughgur

National monument No. 247. Situated on the S facing slope of Knockadoon over looking Lough Gur in an area rich in prehistoric monuments. Prehistoric enclosure (LI032-022028-) annotated as a 'Stone Circle' on OS map with house site (LI032-022011-) 85m to NNW, standing stone (LI032-022021-) in SE quadrant of monument. Listed by Windle (1912) as Circle J. Monument described by Ó Ríordáin (1954, 445, 458) as a circular habitation enclosure surrounded by a double-kerbed bank. Described by O'Kelly (1944, 25) as following; 'This circle consists of two concentric rings of contiguous or almost contiguous Stones, the annular space between the rings being filled with rubble. None of the stones are more than 4' [1.2m] high and most of them are much less. The overall diameter is 100' [30m]. In the S.E quadrant of the interior is a small standing stone 3' 2" [0.95m] high by 1' 7" [0.5m] by 11" [0.3m], and is 15' 6" [4.7m] from the nearest point of the inner circle of stones. The entrance is not recognisable. The natural rock outcrop where it was convenient, has been used to form parts of the circumference. It was partially excavated by Ó Ríordáin, the portions examined being around the standing stone. Surrounding the stone was a rude circle of small boulders inside which were found the bones of an infant whose age was from 6 to 8 years. Some distance to the W and inside a similar circle, a cist was found. In this were adult and infant bones. There were no associated objects on which the structure could be dated but as it is similar in many ways to the next circle to be described (circle R), which has been shown to be Bronze Age, it may be presumed that circle J belongs to the same period'. This type of prehistoric enclosed habitation site was described as a circular shaped delimited by a substantial double-kerbed wall retaining a rubble and earth bank (Grogan and Eogan 1987, 299-300). The upstanding remains of the monument were described as 'Before excavation the wall was clearly visible on the southern and western sides. At the north it appeared more as an earthen bank, and rock outcrop had been used to form part of the circumference in this area. The wall ceased completely to the east and the line of the circle was not evident. The enclosure has an average external diameter of c. 29m. A small standing stone [LI032-022021-] occurs in the south-eastern quadrant' (Eogan and Grogan 1987, 305). According to Grogan and Eogan (1987, 300) this site type on Knockadoon revealed 'Evidence for centrally located houses came from three sites and there was a limited number of individual burials contemporary with the settlement. Three of the sites, including one which was of single-phase activity only, were enclosed during the Neolithic, while the walls at two other sites were constructed in the Beaker period. Domestic occupation continued into this period at some sites, and at one site the final phase is represented by a small quantity of Bowl food vessels. Limited activity occurred during the Later Bronze Age at Circle K while Circle J was used as a burial ground during the first millennium A.D.' The excavation of this monument by Ó Ríordáin was summarised by Grogan and Eogan (1987, 305) who stated that 'Three main phases of activity are represented on this site. The first, dating to the late Neolithic, is an unenclosed habitation. This was succeeded by a second phase during which the domestic site was enclosed by a double-kerbed wall. Long after its occupation role, Circle J was used as a burial ground in the late prehistoric/early historic period'. To see a 3D model of this enclosure, visit; https://skfb.ly/osxHN Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 May 2018