Island: Wedge Tomb CO042-056001

South is on a slope on the eastern side of a dip and above the bottom of a dip in the local landscape [Pic].

North is obscured but appears to be marked by the local high point [Pic].

Green lines approximate hidden horizon segments.

It was excavated in 1957 (O'Kelly 1958). Three lots of cremated bone were found in the chamber but two were too small for meaningful interpretation. The third, in a pit towards the rear, was probably a 60-70 year old female. Finds consisted of two flint scrapers and a piece of worked/heated flint, also a spindle whorl and two glass beads. Three ¹⁴C dates were been obtained and these have since been interpreted as representing a single activity phase c.1412-1308 BC (Brindley & Lanting 1991-2, 20-21).

The north-eastern horizon is obscured but the tomb axis is clearly beyond the lunar limit.

The south-western axis of the tomb indicates the major half of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. cycle. The 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 is in a dip and the sixteenth on the major side of the mid­point is on a hilltop, at the southern end of a ridge. Further west along the ridge is a small rounded top with the solstice at its southern base and its half-month bracket on the other side. The lunar mid­point would be just over three-quarters of a diameter south of the solstice position.

At the western end of the ridge, now disguised by trees and a house, is a sharp notch and then a small hilltop. The notch marks the sixteenth adjacent to the 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.

At the very end of the ridge, in the lowest dip of the horizon, a distant hilltop makes a small bump protruding above the middle distance horizon. The winter cross-quarter sun sets just to the western side of it. Further west again, a larger distant hill similarly marks the half-month south of the equinox.

The equinox itself is in the dip between two hills and its other half-month bracket is about where the further horizon would intersect with local ground were it not for the sod field-fence that is now there.

The north-western horizon is a smooth rising ridge. This is close enough to have been readily modified with markers such as stakes or small cairns but nothing is to be seen there now. The lunar limit is a short distance before the hilltop.

The east is mostly obscured by trees. The first surveyable point is a high point on a forested ridge which is about a half-month north of the winter cross-quarter.

The south-eastern horizon is another local ridge and the winter cross-quarters are possibly in the dip of its intersection with the more distant forested ridge. The major lunar limit would appear to be at the highest point.

Another wedge tomb (CO042-056001) is recorded as possibly having existed about 40m to the south-west. It is reported to have been about eight feet square and to have been destroyed in 1877. Such a position would give a better view of the distant western horizon.

Labbacallee is the nearest surveyed (and excavated) wedge tomb, c.20km to the north-east near Fermoy.

Technical Notes | Top

• Archaeological Survey of Ireland, record details. www.archaeology.ie/archaeological-survey-ireland
• BRINDLEY A.L. & LANTING J.N. 1991-2 Radiocarbon dates from wedge tombs. Journal of Irish Archaeology 6:19-26.
• DE VALERA, RUAIDHRÍ & Ó'NUALLÁIN, SEÁN 1961 Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland, Volume IV: Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary. Dublin: Stationary Office. p5, no.6.
• O'KELLY, M.J. 1958 A Wedge-shaped Gallery Grave at Island, Co. Cork. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 88:1-23.
• POWER, D. et al. 2000 Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, Volume IV: North Cork. Dublin: Stationary Office. p5, no.9820.