Hut site in Bunnamohaun

Situated on low-lying, stony ground sloping slightly towards W, c. 30m upstream from the confluence of the two streams that drain westwards combine to empty into a large flat and largely dry basin marked on Ordnance Survey maps as ‘Loughanaphuca’. The site thus lies in the neck of land formed by the two converging streams. Described by Westropp (1911a, 19) as ‘a cist-like group of flat stones’. It consists of a small stone structure roughly L-shaped in plan (3.4m N–S, 3.2m E–W overall). It appears to be comprised of a small ‘chamber’ (2m N–S, 1.6m E– W) defined by up to five megalith-like set boulders or slabs (max. dim. L 1.1m, Wth 0.55m, H 0.75m). Two of these at the western end appear to define an entrance (Wth 0.65m). With one exception, the boulders are not contiguous. The spaces between them are defined along the southern and eastern sides by small scarps. The interior is a mass of small angular and rounded stones (0.5m max. dim.) resembling field clearance. Although striking in appearance, this monument is most probably the result of the opportunistic use of some naturally occurring boulders that lay to hand, to construct a mundane hut or shelter. The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018