Carns Cairn

The following description of the monument has been published by Bergh (1995, 232-3): ‘Located on the flat summit of Cams Hill. The site consists of a cairn with a diameter of 45-49 m and a height of c. 5 m. The flat top is slightly hollowed. A rich vegetation of briars covers the summit of the hill, but this vegetation ceases at a distance of c. 10 m from the cairn, and this area as well as the cairn as such, is covered by grass. Extensive quarrying has been made within the site and especially on the N. and W. sides. The perimeter of the cairn is however relatively untouched, as the quarrying seems to mainly have been made from the upper edges of the cairn, which is evident from the remaining part of the flat top.

Dimensions: Diameter, 45-49 m. Estimated original diameter, c. 43 m. Height, 5 m (present, as well as original).

The diameter of 43 m is calculated from the about 25 kerbstones present along the perimeter of the cairn in SW. It is notable that nearly all of the visible kerbstones are found at, or very close to, the present edge of the cairn. Evidently the slip of the cairn has not been extensive. The present height is considered to coincide with the original height, as no material seems to have been removed from the dished top.

Stones used within the construction: The cairn consists of locally available limestone, while gneiss has been used for kerbstones, the internal stone revetment, dry-walling, as well as within the two small cairns on the E. and W sides of the main cairn.

Kerbstones: About 25 kerbstones are visible within the site, and nearly all are on the SW side of the cairn. These stones measure c. 0.8 x 0.6m, and all arc gneiss. The have been placed recumbent on the ground with their long-axis forming the perimeter of the cairn.

Internal stone revetment: 15 stones have been recorded c. 3m inside the kerb in SW, describing a curved line parallel to the perimeter of the cairn. These stones measure c.0.5 x 0.4m, and all are gneiss which is in contrast with the limestone-built cairn. These 15 stones most likely represent an internal stone revetment which most likely continues all around the monument, even though it can only be traced for a length of c.15 in the SW part of the cairn.

Dry-walling: On the N. side of the cairn, a drystone walling can be followed for c.5m. The stones in the dry-walling are gneiss field stoncs, with a size of c. 0.3 - 0.4m. The present height of the dry-walled section is c. 0.4m.

Exterior Features

Bank (?): Along the base of the cairn, mainly on its east side, there seems to be a low bank with a height of only c. 0.3m and a width of c. 4m. It cannot be stated with certainty whether this bank is a part of the original construction or if it is a result of a cairn slip.

Platform (?): On the south side a low platform runs along the base of the cairn from SE to SW and its outer edge is parallel to the perimeter of the cairn. The width of the platform is about 9m and its height c. 0.3m. At its western end the outer part of the platform transforms into a bank with a width of c. 2m and a height of c. 0.4m. This bank runs for a distance of c. 10m and then ends in a U-shaped curve into the cairn. The bank is, at least in its western part, constructed by stones since the end has the appearance of a U-shaped stone packing.’ (Bergh 1995, 232-3, Fig. 31).

There are four smaller stone monuments (SL014-231001-; SL014-231002-; SL014-231003-; SL014-231004-) immediately adjacent to this cairn, and another large cairn/possible passage tomb (SL014-232----) is located on a hill c. 400m to NE.

See also linked document with details from Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume V. County Sligo. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1989)