Dunbeacon: Multiple Stone Circle CO130-030

Dunbeacon Stone Circle is about 3km south-west of Durrus and just below the top of a low hill which makes the western horizon extremely local. It has now been enclosed and incorporated into one of the Sheeps Head Way eastern walking routes. Twelve stones in all and six are still upright including the axial but both portals and a central monolith are fallen.

South is on a slope, to the right of a hilltop [Pic].

North is also on the right hand slope of a hill [Pic].

The north-east horizon is distant and well suited to the measure­ment of the rising of northern lunisticesLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. of the moon and summer sunrises. The circle axis [Pic] indicates Douce Mountain and the lunar major standstillLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range. At the other end of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range, the positions of minor standstillLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range and summer cross-quarter have rather less obvious markers and it seems likely that the fallen internal monolith indicated this direction.

Around 400m away near the foot of Mt Corrin is a Stone Pair and a Standing Stone site. They form an integral part of this monument, but more of them later.

Mt Corrin covers the equinoctial zone although the equinox itself does not get an accurate marker and the southern flank of the hill is also rather smooth until the notch at the bottom coincides with winter cross-quarters.

The south-eastern ridge is fairly near and delineates the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range.

Lunar positions may be indicted by a secondary axis of the circle. There is a pair of stones in the south-eastern quadrant and on the western side of the circle the stones have an anomalous height order with the one pictured being lower than the one next closest to the axial stone. There is a similar arrangement at Drombeg Stone Circle.

The axial stone is unusually tall and narrow. This may be because the south-western quadrant is only useful for the major half of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range before the distant horizon intersects with local ground that continues right round into the north-western quadrant.

This circle then is oriented to the major standstillsLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range and has astronomically useful horizons in three quadrants. The lack of a useful north-west horizon and the inadequacy of the south-west are a design feature as this is only half the monument. It was completed by the outlying Standing Stone.

Across Dunmanus Bay, 6.6km to the west is another comple­mentary circle at Gorteanish. There are no others in the area of Dunmanus Bay and its hinterland.

Technical Notes | Top

---

References

• Archaeological Survey of Ireland, record details. www.archaeology.ie/archaeological-survey-ireland
• Ó'NUALLÁIN, SEÁN 1975 The Stone Circle Complex of Cork and Kerry. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 105:83-131, no.22.
• Ó'NUALLÁIN, SEÁN 1984 A Survey of Stone Circles in Cork and Kerry. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 84c:1-77, p22, no.32.
• POWER, D. et al. 1992 Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, Volume 1: West Cork. Dublin: Stationary Office. p21, no.54.
• RUGGLES, C.L.N. 1999 Astronomy in Prehistoric Britain and Ireland. Newhaven & London: Yale University Press. No.ASC50.