Bohonagh

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Bohonagh is a recumbent stone circle located 2.4km east of Rosscarbery, County Cork, Ireland. The circle is thought to date from the Bronze Age. A boulder burial is sited nearby.[1] (grid ref: 308 368, Latitude: 51.580102N Longitude: 8.998987W[2])

Contents

[edit] Features

The stone circle comprised 13 stones set in a circle with a diameter of 30ft. Four out of the 13 stones are missing and three were re-erected after excavation. Two portal stones are set radially on an east-west axis to the recumbent stones and are 240cm high. At just under 8ft, these stone are among the tallest of any Irish stone circle. The axis from these stones to the large axial-stone on the west side, points to sunset at the equinoxes.[1] Many of the stones have quartz inclusions and many small pieces of quartz are associated with the circle.[3]

A boulder burial is sited 20m east of the circle, and its large capstone (weighing almost 20 tons[3]) has seven or more small cup-marks on the upper surface. Two of the three small supporting stones are of quartz and a fourth has been uprooted. A nearby loose slab also features cup-marks. The complex, which included a wooden house (which had been excavated) is of Bronze Age date.[1]

[edit] Excavations

In 1959 the site was excavated and a central pit containing charcoal and cremated bone was found.[3]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Weir, A (1980). Early Ireland. A Field Guide. Belfast: Blackstaff Press, p113. 
  2. ^ Bohonagh. The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
  3. ^ a b c Bohonagh Recumbent Stone Circle - Co. Cork. Megalithics.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
  • McNally, Kenneth (2006). "Ireland's Ancient Stones" (Belfast: Appletree Press). ISBN 0 8628 1996 2

[edit] External links