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Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb

Tullycommon Wedge Tomb

Tuama Dinge Thulach Chumann

Wedge-shaped gallery grave in County Clare, Ireland.

  • AccessNot confirmed
  • National MonumentIn State care
  • DateNot stated
  • FolkloreNone recorded
  • PhotoWanted
Tullycommon, Co. Clare53.02546, -9.05842
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Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer

At a glance

  • TypeMegalithic tomb - wedge tomb
  • Recorded sizeest. min. L 3.1m E-W; W 1.2m at E
  • StatusNational Monument

What to look for

  • Capstone

Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.

Can you visit?

  • No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
  • Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
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History and description

On a very slight rise in high (between 600’ and 653’) undulating rough pasture, within an extensive multiperiod field system (CL010-064001-), with fair views E-S-W-NE. Indicated as a rectangular feature and named ‘Dermot & Grania’s Bed’ on both the first edition (1842) and Cassini edition (1920) of the OS 6-inch map.

Full archaeological record 404 words

On a very slight rise in high (between 600’ and 653’) undulating rough pasture, within an extensive multiperiod field system (CL010-064001-), with fair views E-S-W-NE. Indicated as a rectangular feature and named ‘Dermot & Grania’s Bed’ on both the first edition (1842) and Cassini edition (1920) of the OS 6-inch map. Described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 46) as a very disturbed wedge tomb (est. min. L 3.1m E-W; Wth 1.2m at E) embedded in the centre of a low, roughly circular mound (12.5m N-S; 11.5m E-W; H 0.75-1.25m). The tomb appeared to have originally been orientated E-W. The N and E sides were still in situ, with possible remains of outer-walling at the NE and with a broken capstone lying beyond this to the NE. The N sidestone (L 3.3m; H 1.1m; T 0.15m) leaned inward (i.e., to the S), and was cracked near the W. Westropp (1905, 221) observed signs of hammer-dressing at the E. The E end of the tomb comprised three parallel slabs (L 1.15-1.7m; H 1-1.2m; T 0.1-0.15m). Just to the NE of these was an earthfast slab (L 1.4m; H 0.9m; T 0.1m) orientated NW-SE. Together with a second slab (L 0.7m; H 0.25m; T 0.1m) 0.5m to the E, a third slab (L 1.25m; H 1m; T 0.15m) just N of the N sidestone’s E end and a fourth slab (L 1.7m; H 1m; T 0.15m) leaning against the N side of the N sidestone, all were thought to possibly represent an outer-walling enclosing the tomb’s E end. Immediately to the NE lay two capstone fragments (W fragment L 2.3m; Wth 2.3m; T 0.2-0.3m; E fragment L 2.15m; Wth 1.7m; T 0.2-0.3m). Two smaller slabs lay near the capstone pieces, one (L 1.15m; T 0.1m) to the SE and the other (L 1.55m; Wth 0.95m; T 0.1m) to the NE. Westropp (ibid.) also found the capstone resting on the tomb’s side. An inspection in 1999 found the tomb to have remained as described by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (op. cit.) . A cashel (CL010-064014-) lies c. 30m to the E.

See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961)

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References

De Valera, R. and Ó Nualláin, S. 1961 Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland. Volume 1 County Clare. Dublin. The Stationery Office.

References

  • Westropp, T.J. 1905 Prehistoric remains (forts and dolmens) along the borders of Burren, in the County of Clare. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 35, 205-29.

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott · Updated 6 April 2023. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

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      Around Tullycommon Wedge Tomb

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