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'Nellie's Rock' : Portal Tomb

TownlandCurraghalaher
CountyRoscommon
Grid RefM 965 549
GPSM 96457 54933 (6m)
Longitude8° 3' 12.43" W
Latitude53° 32' 39.53" N
Nearest TownRoscommon (13.1 Km)
OS Sheet40
UTM zone29U
UTM x562720.55575379
UTM y5933240.610785
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Visit Notes

Sunday, 14th July 2002

I had read before that these stones (simply marked "stones" on the OS) were a source of contention as to their actual form. They have not been recognised as a tomb in the surveys, yet I can't see why not.

To me this seems to consist of two sections. Projecting out into the field is what looks like a kist. A large slab resting on a circle of upright set stones - this can not be a natural feature.

Behind these, tucked away in the trees, is a humungous stone slab resting against two set slabs and a third leaning slab, which in combination do appear to be a portal tomb. Perhaps this is one that was never finished.

The field is littered with rows and arcs of set stones which do not look like simple field boundaries.

It is an enigmatic site but I am sure it's a megalithic tomb.

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All Sites Visited On 14th July 2002    « Previous Site    Next Site »

Saturday, 18th August 2007

This site has been cleared and it is now possible to see what is there. However, the site is now heavily fenced off from the old road that runs past it. We entered the field via a style in the wall some distance from the tomb and walked up the field. It was then we noticed the high chainlink fence between it and the road. We could see a notice board on the outside of the fence. After taking some photos we went around to read the sign. It was then we saw the big 'Private Keep Out' sign on the fence. At places such as these you have to ask why someone wouldn't want to share a monument that is 1m from the road?

The sign has a little map which points out some other features in teh field: a couple of ancient field walls and some concentric circles. The latter appear to be disrupted circles of stones. The board also says that the tomb structure is a collapsed portal tomb with a cist or pasage tomb at its rear. I actually think it is all one monument. In Wales there are portal tombs that have a secondary chamber at their rear as an extension.

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All Sites Visited On 18th August 2007    Next Site »

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Random Gazetteer

A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments

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5.6 Km (SSE) there is a Standing Stone at Kiltoom.
9.4 Km (SSW) there is a Sweat House at Eskerbawn.
6.6 Km (SSW) there is a Sweat House at Ardmullen.
3.5 Km (WNW) there is a Sheela-na-Gig at Skregg.
3.8 Km (W) there is a Passage Tomb at Skregg.

A Selection of Other Portal Tombs

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