Re: Stone circles
- From: "Cat(h)" <cathy_ie@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:51:08 -0700 (PDT)
On Aug 20, 8:02 pm, Féachadóir <Féach@d.óir> wrote:
Scríobh "Sophistry Made Simple" <spamala...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
"Féachadóir" <Féach@d.óir> wrote in message
news:0kas65pme2epqk4tbmrgpt716v3cjt550o@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.faduda.net/circles.html
Definitely stones, in a circle.
Donegal Democrat, 20 August 2009
An expert has confirmed that a stone circle on the southern side of
the Gleann Cholm Cille valley most likely dates to the Bronze Age,
ending a riddle that has puzzled archaeologists for decades.
The structure, a "ring cairn" made up of "two concentric stone
circles, with cairn material between them, the outer circle lower than
the inner circle", was examined recently by Caimin O'Brien, an
archaeologist with the Archaeological Survey of Ireland.
"What I used to call mountains in Offaly I will never be describe as
mountains again after a few days here," Mr O'Brien said during a break
in his survey of the valley.
The stone circle is "probably the first half of the bronze age",
meaning it dates to anywhere between 2600BC and 600BC, most likely
before 1500BC.
The discovery was made possible by Seamus McGinley, a native of the
area studying archaeology as a mature student in Galway, who
researched old papers describing the archaeological heritage of the
area and interviewed local people about their knowledge to fill in the
gaps in the record.
Paula Harvey (former curator of Donegal County Museum and Field
Monument Advisor for County Donegal) and Sean O'Beirn also worked on
the project and played a significant role in the discoveries through
hundreds of hours of field walking.
Archaeologists were previously puzzled that the valley shows evidence
of human activity in the stone age, and later in the iron age and
early Christian era up to the present, but not during the bronze age.
The new discovery confirms that people have lived there continuously
for up to six thousand years.
The monument is one of several which will now be added to the official
'Record of Monuments and Places', an index of all archaeological sites
in Ireland.
Several of the other sites had previously been recorded in the 'Sites
and Monuments Record', which lists possible monuments and ruins less
than 300 years old, but are now confirmed in the record.
Among the newly confirmed sites are three bullaun stones in the
valley, a fourth bullaun stone on the Pilgrim Path to Sliabh Liag, a
promontory fort in Malainn Mhór, and a possible court tomb now
confirmed by the discovery of the cairn.
Two holy wells in Cill Ghabhlaigh [Kilgoly] have also been
're-discovered' thanks to the research. The wells had been lost in the
archaeological inventory, as the only mention of them was a vague
reference in a 1936 list of Holy Wells in Donegal, but their locations
survived in the local folk memory and has now been recorded properly.
Details of the new field survey will be presented during Heritage Week
at the Oideas Gael centre, along with a description by Dr Martina
McCarthy of Geoarc Ltd on the continuing work at Straid Early
Christian site and the Portal Tomb Complex in Malainn Mhór.
Support for the ongoing surveys and research projects comes from
Oideas Gael and the Heritage Council.
The events will also include a lecture on the conservation of
traditional buildings in Donegal by Dr Greg Stevenson of the
University of Wales.
Very cool news.
I hear they are also going to send some Ovine Astronomy expert from
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand, to have a right
proper look at them yoes.
Caít()
.
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