Drombohilly Upper: Multiple Stone Circle KE109-003003

Drombohilly Stone Circle is about 2km south of Tuosist, 2.5km north of Lauragh. A few hundred metres from the road, without a path and surrounded by recent forestry. Nine upright stones remain of a probable eleven.

South is on a slope to the right of a hilltop. Perhaps on a slight rise but detail is obscured by forestry [Pic].

North is on a distant hilltop, at the left side of a block of high ground [Pic].

The north-eastern lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range starts with 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 in a dip and ends with 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 in another though not quite at the bottom.

The hilltop in the middle is half-way between summer cross-quarters and the solstice.

The circle axis is well beyond all of it [Pic]

The east is rapidly disappearing behind the growing trees but the equinox is on a hilltop.

Eight & fifteen day markers for the cross-quarters are also well marked.

A local rocky hill to the south-east makes useful markers for winter sunrises and the minor half of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range.

The top marks the limits of a month centred on winter solstice.

South is on the western slope but forestry has obscured the profile [Pic].

The circle axis indicates the major end of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range and there was probably considerable precision to be had there when the ridge was bare.

The far south-west provides many good markers, with the lunar points all in dips and winter solstice on a hilltop.

A large hill to the west has the one week early warning for spring equinox on its main peak and the equinox on the other.

Winter cross-quarters are at the southern basal step.

The northern basal dip is half-way to the summer cross-quarters which are themselves marked by a distant low hilltop.

After the summer cross-quarters hillop, summer solstice sunset is on another top with the half-way point betwen them in a dip.

The lunar eighths and 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 are marked by hilltops.

Within the local monument group (but not surveyed):

• Wedge Tomb KE109-022, c.300m up the hill would have been earlier but is now unsurveyably inside the forestry plantation.
• Lehid Boulder-burials c.600m to the SW and close to the road are almost certainly a bit later.
• Lehid Standing Stone c.600m to the SW and close to the road is possibly the latest ritual monument of this local group.
• In the general same area there are also the remains of a number of hut sites, enclosures and field systems.

Nearby surveyed sites:

• Cashelkeelty Stone Circles & Stone Row are c.6km south-west.
• Shronebirrane Stone Circle is c.7km south-south-west.
• Uragh Five Stone Circle is one of a local group of monuments c.5km north-east (56°)

Technical Notes | Top

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References

• Archaeological Survey of Ireland, record details. www.archaeology.ie/archaeological-survey-ireland
• BYRNE, ELIZABETH, et.al. 2009 Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry. Volume I: South-West Kerry. Dublin: Stationery Office. p15, no.61.
• Ó'NUALLÁIN, SEÁN 1984 A Survey of Stone Circles in Cork and Kerry. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 84c:1-77, p30, no.48.
• RUGGLES, C.L.N. 1999 Astronomy in Prehistoric Britain and Ireland. Newhaven & London: Yale University Press. No.ASC28.