Megalithic tomb in Carrigeens (carbury By.)

Situated on a lawn in the rear garden of a dwelling. Four upright and three prostrate stones appear to represent the last vestiges of a megalithic tomb. The stone to the S is 0.7m long, 0.5m thick and 1.15m high. A pair of stones, probably originally one stone, stand 2.2m to the N of this. The taller stone is 0.95m long, 0.25m thick and 0.90m high and at its N base is a smaller piece, 0.3m long by 0.18m thick and 0.45m high. Beside these to the N is a prostrate stone, 1.25m long by 0.9m wide and 0.4m thick. It is possible that this represents part of the previous stone that has been broken off. Some 0.4m W of this slab is another upright, 1.05m long, 0.55m thick and 0.8m high. A prostrate slab (0.95m by 0.80m and 0.2m thick) lies c. 3.8m to the NNW. Another prostrate slab (1.5m by 0.85m and at least 0.22m thick) lies 1.2m E of the S upright. The relationship of these to the structure is unclear and they clearly are displaced. Inasmuch as the garden has been landscaped there is no evidence of any surviving mound around the structure. The monument appears to be the last vestiges of a megalithic tomb, though in view of the scantiness of the remains some caution is necessary. The orientation of the three principal uprights would support interpretation as the remains of a gallery aligned E-W with possible affinities to those of the wedge-tomb class. However, elucidation of the full design of the monument must await excavation. Immediately E of the monument is a ring-barrow (SL007-040002-) the outline of which is visible as slight circular undulations (diam. 6.5-7m) in the ground surface. Attached images: SL007-040001-_01.pdf plan of the monument SL007-040001-_01.JPG Viewed from W SL007-040001-_02.JPG Viewed from NW SL007-040001-_02.JPG Viewed from SE Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 20 April 2012