List of axial multiple-stone circles


An axial stone circle is a particular type of megalithic ring of stones of which many are found in southwest Ireland. Archaeologists have found it convenient to consider axial five-stone circles and axial multiple-stone circles separately – this list is of multiple-stone circles, those with seven stones or more. They 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 all 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.
Dating from the Bronze Age, axial stone 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 they were called recumbent stone circles by analogy with similar examples in Scotland but when it became clear there were substantial differences the term "Cork–Kerry stone circle" was adopted. The term "axial stone circle" has since become frequently used leaving it unclear whether both types or only the multiple type is meant.
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 – multiple-stone". The NMS definition is:
Included are 41 sites in County Cork, 15 in County Kerry and a single one in County Clare.

List of axial multiple-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
AhagillaCO121-100----73/?ruin
An Dromaid KE089-053----
45/7*ruin
Ardgroom SWCO102-006001-302
7.310/11good
Ardgroom NECO102-010----302
3/5+gone
BallyvackeyCO135-005001-
8.57/9*ruin
BohonaghCO143-032001-304
9.913good
excav.
Breeny MoreCO106-005001-305
10.510/13*ruin
Carrigagrenane CO134-008----308
8.513/19ruin
Carrigagulla CO049-008----310
915/17*ruin
CarrigaphoocaCO070-035----
5.55+gone
Cashelkeelty KE108-013001-344
173/11 or 13gone
excav.
CoolaclevaneCO082-066----
7.59ruin
CoollickKE058-134----10/?good
CoolmountainCO093-013----
9.22/11*gone
CoulaghCO114-002----
8.55+gone
Currabeha CO083-109002-
75/9 or 11ruin
Currabeha CO083-110----
8.513*gone
CurraghodeaCL031-052----
Derreenataggart WestCO115-011002-316
7.715*ruin
DerrynafinchinCO092-001001-
811 or 13ruin
DoughillKE093-042----
90/17*gone
DromagorteenKE102-032002-1013ruin
DrombegCO143-051002-
9.314/17good
excav.
Drombohilly UpperKE109-003001-346
8.59/11*ruin
DromkealCO105-003----913ruin
DromroeKE101-010001-347
9.513/13ruin
DunbeaconCO130-030----318
811ruin
GarryglassCO120-062----
1/11gone
Glantane East CO048-090----319
511ruin
Glantane East CO048-093----
56/11 or 13*gone
Gort An AcraCO069-015----
813ruin
Gort An ImillCO069-013----320
7.89good
GorteanishCO130-016----811/11gone
GortroeCO094-046----322
8.511*unc.
Gowlane NorthCO050-008----
6.58/9*ruin
GurteenKE094-021001-348
10.511/11good
KealagowlaneCO104-027001-811/11ruin
KenmareKE093-032001-349
17x1515/15good
KilboultraghCO059-151----
90/11gone
KillowenKE093-018----
100/11gone
Kilmartin LowerCO050-061001-
3.46/7ruin
KnocknaneirkCO095-016----
9.57/9*good
Knocks CO121-063----
911*ruin
Knocks CO121-067----
8.55+gone
LackaroeKE093-050001-88/13ruin
LissardCO042-074001-
80/5+gone
LohartKE101-007001-351
115+restored
Maughanaclea CO106-016001-329
11.512/13*ruin
MaulatanvallyCO121-057----331
9.57/11*ruin
Oughtihery CO060-042----334
2.95/7*ruin
ReadrinaghKE068-085----10.70/29gone
Reanascreena SouthCO134-032----335
9.8x9.313/13good
excav.
ShronebirraneKE108-022----353
7.59/13*ruin
TeergayCO070-108----338
7.58/9*ruin
Templebryan NorthCO122-076----339
9.55/9*ruin
Uragh KE101-025001-9.5x7.510/11ruin

Citations

Works cited

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