List of axial five-stone circles


An axial five-stone circle is a particular type of megalithic ring of five stones of which many are found in southwest Ireland. These circles have an approximate axis of symmetry aligned in a generally northeast–southwest direction – the stone at the southwest side of the circle, rather than being an upright orthostat like the rest, rests on the ground with its long axis horizontal. Because it marks the axis it is called the axial stone. It is usually quite thin and it lies with its long thin edge along the circumference of the ring.
There are two types of axial stone circle, one type with five stones, listed here, and axial multiple-stone circles, with seven stones or more, listed at List of axial multiple-stone circles. Dating from the Bronze Age, these circles when constructed had an odd number of stones with two stones placed on either side of where the axis crosses the northeast side of the ring. They are found in County Cork and County Kerry.
Early in the 20th century this type of circle was called a recumbent stone circle by analogy with similar examples in Scotland but when it became clear there were substantial differences the term "Cork–Kerry stone circle" was used for both types until later the term "axial stone circle" became commonly used.
has published a comprehensive catalogue of stone circles in the two counties and Burl followed with two books, and, covering a much broader area but still including this type of circle. Ireland's National Monuments Service, part of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, operates a database of archaeology sites and the list in this article covers the sites classified as "stone circle – five-stone". The NMS definition is:
Included are 56 sites in County Cork and three in County Kerry.

List of axial five-stone circles

The map shows the locations of the 56 sites in counties Cork and Kerry. All the locations can be displayed dynamically via the OpenStreetMap viewer.
TownlandSMR No.Ref.Diameter
Num. stonesStatus
Notes
Lat/longIrish Grid
An Lománach Mhór
Lumnagh More
CO069-076-----
2.15/5
BallyvouskillCO048-056----none C5
3.55/5ruin
Baurgorm CO118-044002-303A C6a
2.65/5ruin
Baurgorm CO118-042----303B C6b
2.6x2.55/5ruin
Bellmount Upper CO083-118----none C7a
45/5gone
Bellmount Upper CO083-117----none C7b
3.95/5gone
CabraghCO059-015002-none C11
3.24/5ruin
CanrooskaCO090-006002-none C12
2.44/5ruin
Cappaboy Beg CO092-004----306 C13a
2.3x1.85/5ruin
Carrigagrenane CO121-054----308 C15a
4/5ruin
Carrigagulla CO049-007----309 C16a
32+/5ruin
CarriganimmyCO048-097001-311 C17
3.35/5good
CarriganineCO070-092----none C18
5/5unc.
CarrigonirtaneCO059-011----none C20
2.84/5ruin
Cashelkeelty KE108-013004-344 K1b
1.53/5ruin
ClodaghCO120-001002-312 C21
2.75/5good
Cloghboola BegCO048-080002-313 C22
3.9x2.85/5ruin
Cloghboola MoreCO048-025001-none C23
3.14/5ruin
CousaneCO092-051----314 C27
3.2x2.45/5good
CullenaghCO107-024----none C28
2/5ruin
Cullomane EastCO118-073001-315 C29
3.9x3.45/5good
DerryarkaneCO106-019----none C34
35/5good
DromatoukKE093-087----345 K4
2.75/5good
Dromgarriff SouthCO051-153----none C37
30/5gone
DromgarvanCO116-006----none C38
3x2.45/5ruin
GlanbrackCO121-059001-none C42
2.83/5ruin
GlenleighCO039-097----none C45
3.44/5ruin
GlenreaghCO021-060----none C46
3.54/5ruin
Gort Na Tiobratan
Gortnatubbrid
CO058-029----none C51
2.44/5ruin
Grenagh SouthCO051-103----none C54
50/5gone
IllaneCO092-016001-none C55
2.7x2.35/5ruin
InchireaghCO107-012----none C56
3x2.45/5ruin
InchybeggaCO119-032----none C57
3x2.74/5ruin
KealkillCO106-006001-323 C59
2.8x2.55/5good
Kilmeedy West CO039-242-----
1.64/5
Kilmeedy West CO047-005----none C62
3.53/5ruin
Knockantota NorthCO051-018----none C63
0/5gone
Knockavullig CO071-106----none C65a
2.4x2.30/5gone
Knockavullig CO071-068----none C65b
3.25/5ruin
KnocknakillaCO048-095002-324 C66
2.75/5good
Knocknaneirk CO083-085002-none C67a
3.9x3.15/5good
KnockraheenCO059-023002-325 C68
4.1x3.65/5good
LaharankealCO060-137----none C37
1.55/5ruin
LeckaneenCO061-084----none C72
3.55/5ruin
Lettergorman CO121-035----326 C73b
3.1x2.85/5ruin
LissacresigCO070-016----328 C74
3.6x35/5good
Maughanaclea centreCO106-014001-none C76a
2.6x2.25/5ruin
Mill LittleCO105-004004-332 C78
3.1x2.45/5ruin
Oughtihery CO049-029----333 C79b
2.9x2.75/5ruin
Pluckanes NorthCO051-043001-none C80
3.7x3.20/5gone
Ré Na Ndoirí
Reananerre
CO069-026----336 C81
2.6x1.95/5good
RosnascalpCO071-100----none C83
35/5ruin
RylaneCO061-001----337 C84
3.7x2.95/5good
TrawlebaneCO119-005----none C87
2.45/5ruin
TulligCO048-044----none C88
0/5gone
Uragh KE101-012001-none K19a
2.5x2.45/5

Citations

Works cited

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