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Borlase's Introduction



Knocknarea
Queen Maeve's Cairn
The Glen
Carrowkeel
Shee Lugh
Sliabh Dá Eán
Cairns Hill
Abbeyquarter
Doonaveeragh Village
Caves of Kesh
Cairns Hill
Moytura
Knocknashee
Sheemor
Kilclooney More
Newgrange

These four sites are situated on the northwest side of Carrowmore, and complete the large oval chain of circles, Site 55 bringing us back again to Circle 1. Site 52 is a fine example of a split boulder dolmen supported by five uprights. Petrie reports that this site had a fine big circle, removed not long before 1837. The dolmen is surrounded by a cairn composed of stones cleared from the field.

Site 53 was buried under a field wall for many years, until it was liberated by excavation around 1998. The site is partially destroyed by a quarry on the west side. A fairly long passage points in to Listoghil.

Site 54 is another small dolmen, very like Site 52. Again, it's circle was removed not long before Petrie's visit. A piece of Carrowkeel ware was found in this chamber.

Site 55 was a cairn of stones cleared from the field. The excavation revealed that it was the remains of a small destroyed circle.

Site 52

Borlase: - No. 52. Situated about 70 paces to the N.W. of the cairn called Listoghil (dolmen-circle). "This, which was a large circle, has been recently (in 1837) destroyed for the materials which it afforded to build the wall connecting the field boundary in that direction with the road. The cromleac, however, which is a very large and apparently double one, still remains, but is in great part buried in stones collected to clear the adjacent fields." - Petrie.

The cromleac, which is a fine specimen, remains. Its porch-like entrance is very remarkable. Possibly it may have been a double or figure-of-8 dolmen." - Wood-Martin.

Wakeman's drawing of Carrowmore 52 in 1882.

The dolmen measures 4 feet 6 ins. in height. Its long axis is N.W. and S.E. The roofing-stone, which measures 5 feet 8 ins. by 5 feet, and is in the centre about 2 feet 6 ins. thick, rests on 4 stones, 2 on either side. The stone at the N.W. end is missing; and the antechamber, porch, or continuation at the S.E. end is formed by 2 uncovered stones. The gap or slit connecting this with the interior of the dolmen is only 6 inches wide.

"In this cist there were six hundred and fifteen fragments of bones, all small, greyish-white, ashen-coloured and calcined. With them were two teeth (of a ruminant), part of the tibia of bird (curlew or plover), and a, piece of shell (Helix). Twenty of the bone fragments exhibited the peculiar transverse crack-like' marks alluded to in preceding interments," - Wood-Martin.

Site 53

LXV. No. 53. Situated on the same field-boundary as LXIV, within about 100 feet of the road (dolmen-circle). "A few stones of this circle only remain. It was destroyed a few years ago by Mr. Walshe's herd, by that gentleman's order. As usual, it had a cromleac within." - Petrie.

"The few stones" have been removed, but its diminutive cromleac is still intact. An excavation was made with the following results: -

(a) Bones, which, according to Dr. Frazer, are all human, and had been imperfectly burned. They belonged to an adult, advanced in years, judging from the teeth and a fragment of the jaw with two molars and three incisors much worn down. were also portions of crania, thigh bones, etc.
(b) A fragment of rude pottery, yellowish drab in colour, and 1 inch in thickness, being evidently part of a large vessel imperfectly burned. For the purpose of giving consistency to the material, small pieces of shells and pebbles had been mixed with the clay of which it was composed. The fragments of shells and stones are not apparent on the surface of the vessel, but become visible only where it has disintegrated, or has been chipped or fractured. This specimen of pottery exhibits six rows of rudely punched depressions lnade at an angle downwards from the rim or lip of the vessel. The two lower lines had evidently been punched with an implement of larger size than that which produced the upper marks. The rudeness of this fragment contrasts greatly with the finer specimen of pottery found in the S. cist of XXXVII "to which a mixture of micaceous clay appeared to have given great consistency."
(c) Fragment ofa flint-flake.
(d) Shells of Mytilus edulis (mussel), Litorina litorea (periwinkle), Litorina rudis (one specimen), Cardium edulis (cockle).
(e) An irregular mass of yellowish quartz, weighing 1 lb. 2 oz - W. M.
MS. "Letters," loc. cit.; R.S.M., pp. 75-77.

The small dolmen at Site 54 looking to the central monument at Listoghil, where the cairn was recently 'restored' around the megalithic chamber.

Site 54

Situated at the angle of the field, N.E. of the cairn called Listoghil, and to the E. of LXV (dolmen-circle). "Of this circle, also, only a few stones are left, the rest having been carried away to clear the ground; but the cromleac is untouched, though covered with stones collected off the land." - Petrie.

''The few stones yet remaining of those which formed this monument may now be seen in the fences around a neighbouring cottage." - Wood Martin.

Site 55, a cairn, when excavated proved to be a small circle with a destroyed dolmen.

Site 55

Situated to the N. of the preceding (No. 54) and close to the road. "It is the external chain of circles which commenced with No. 1. From Col. Wood-Martin's plan it would appear that this circle is S.W. of LXVI (dolmen-circle). "This circle is more perfect, but of the stones have been removed to form a garden wall. The cromleac is perect, but covered with stones. The place of any intermediate circles which may have existed (between this and No. 1, so as to make the chain perfect) have been occupied by the road and houses on either side." - Petrie.