Wedge tomb in Lissylisheen

Situated at the E edge of a partially grass-covered limestone plateau, within the NNW sector of an enclosure (CL009-001054-), which lies within a very large multiperiod field system (CL009-001001-/CL005-116---*/CL008-045001*) that stretches from Lissylisheen to Lisdoonvarna. The land falls away to the E, providing good views from NW to S. This wedge tomb was described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 24) as follows: ‘The monument is very ruined. The chamber is collapsed and the roofstone now lies at the south-east. The south side of the camber is broken and displaced but though the northern sidestone leans heavily inwards, its base appears to be almost in situ. A transverse stone remains in situ at the west end of the chamber. Outer-walling is represented north of the chamber by four stones and on the south by two stones. A single stone at the west indicates a continuation of this feature across the front of the tomb. Beyond it are four stones which may be the remains of a kerb. The grass-covered mound surrounding the structure appears to consist of earth and stones. A stone fence crosses the north end of the mound. The uneven nature of the ground and the distortion cause by the fence makes exact definition of the edge difficult. In general the mound appears to be roughly circular and is approximately 11.50 m. in diameter. It rises to a maximum height of 1.25m near the west end of the chamber.’ While de Valera and Ó Nualláin (ibid.) noted that the original dimensions of the chamber could not be ascertained, their plan indicates that it was orientated to the WNW and was c. 2.5m in length and c. 1.7m wide internally at the open W end, narrowing to c. 1m towards the rear. The possible kerb noted is similar to one that was exposed in the excavations of another wedge tomb (CL017-180002-) in Parknabinnia townland (Ó Maoldúin 2015); alternatively, it may be the footing of an outer tomb façade. The mound surrounding the tomb appears to abut it and is therefore possibly of later date. FitzPatrick (2008, 137) suggests that it possibly served as a boundary marker in medieval and later times. The surrounding field system is likely to include settlement elements contemporary with the tomb, similar to those identified in Parknabinnia townland (e.g. CL016-167003-, CL016-173----) (Jones 2008; Jones et al. 2015) and elsewhere on the Burren (e.g. CL006-146----; CL010-230----) (Jones et al. 2011). The well-known cashel of Cahermacnaghten (CL009-001010-) lies c. 340 m to the NW. The following has been uploaded: Details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961) Compiled by: Mary Tunney, Olive Alcock and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 27 September 2021

Wedge tomb, dating to the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age (c. 2500–1200 BCE). Its location within a multiperiod field system highlights its role in a long-standing landscape of ritual and agricultural activity.