Drumskinny

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Some of the standing stones at Drumskinny, Ireland
Some of the standing stones at Drumskinny, Ireland

Drumskinny, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, is the site of a stone circle measuring 13m in diameter. It originally had 39 upright stones up to 1.8 metres in height, although some have been removed, with a probable gap to the north-west where there is a small carefully-constructed cairn of stones contained within a kerb almost 4m in diameter. Stretching south from the cairn is a 15m-long alignment of 23 small stones.[1] The complex has been well restored and is easily accessible.[2] The site is a few hundred yards from the Kesh - Castlederg Road. Grid Ref: H 201 707.[3] The Stone circle, cairn and alignment are State Care Historic Monuments in the townland of Drumskinny, in Fermanagh District Council area, at grid ref: H2009 7072.[4]

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[edit] Excavation

The site was excavated in 1962[5] and was supposedly built around 2000 BC, at the peak of the stone circle era.[6]

[edit] Features

It is described as a megalithic mini-complex, a kind of miniaturised Beaghmore. There is a stone circle, a well made kerbed cairn, and a stone row, all set within a small area. The circle is composed of close-set stones of varying heights, with no particular grading being apparent, the tallest stone is 1.5m high and stands at the SSE. It was originally composed of 39 stones, but seven are replacements with the letters "MOF" (Ministry of Finance)[6] carved into their tops. The circle is said to have an entrance gap at the north-west, but there appear to be identical gaps at the north-east and south-west. If the stones standing today (original and replacement), are in the original positions, this must put the single entrance theory in doubt. One of the claims for the north-west gap being an entrance is that it is aligned with the kerbed cairn to the north-west of the circle, but this alignment is poor. The cairn is 3.75m in diameter, and its centre is 3m north-west of the circle edge. Excavation revealed an ellipse of small standing stones at the cairn centre. Running southwards from the cairn, and tangential to the circle, is a row of small stones about 15m long. Originally of 24 stones, 23 appear to be standing, 5 of them with the "MOF" inscription.[2]

[edit] Artefacts

Excavation of the site produced few finds, a hollow-scraper and a few worked flints were found under and around the cairn, whilst a sherd of Western Neolithic ware was found on the old ground surface near a circle stone at the east. There was no evidence of burial or funerary activity in the cairn or anywhere else at the site.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Drumskinny. The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  2. ^ a b c Drumskinny Stone Circle, County Fermanagh. Megalithics. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  3. ^ Drumskinny Stone Circle. Megalithic Ireland. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  4. ^ Drumskinny. Environment and Heritage Service NI - State care Historic Monuments. Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
  5. ^ Drumskinny Stone Circle. Irish Antiquities. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  6. ^ a b Drumskinny Stone Circle. Triskelle. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.

[edit] External links

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