Bohonagh

{{Short description|Archaeological site in Ireland}}

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}

{{Use Irish English|date=June 2021}}

Bohonagh is an axial stone circle located 2.4 km east of Rosscarbery, County Cork, Ireland. The circle is thought to date from the Bronze Age. A boulder burial is sited nearby{{cite book | last=Weir, A| year=1980 |title=Early Ireland. A Field Guide | publisher=Blackstaff Press | location=Belfast | page=113}} (grid ref: 308 368).{{cite web | title=Bohonagh | work=The Megalithic Portal | url=http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=685 | access-date=2008-06-11}}

Features

The stone circle comprised 13 stones set in a circle with a diameter of {{convert|30|ft|sigfig=1}}. Four out of the 13 stones are missing and three were re-erected after excavation. Two portal stones are set radially on an east–west axis to the recumbent stones and are {{convert|240|cm|ftin}} high. At just under {{convert|8|ft}}, these stone are among the tallest of any Irish stone circle. The axis from these stones to the large axial-stone on the west side, points to sunset at the equinoxes. Many of the stones have quartz inclusions and many small pieces of quartz are associated with the circle.{{cite web | title=Bohonagh Recumbent Stone Circle - Co. Cork | work=Megalithics.com | url=http://www.megalithics.com/ireland/bohonagh/bonomain.htm | access-date=2008-06-11}}

A boulder burial (dolmen) is sited {{convert|20|m|sigfig=1}} east of the circle, and its large capstone (weighing almost 20 tons) has seven or more small cup-marks on the upper surface. Two of the three small supporting stones are of quartz and a fourth has been uprooted. A nearby loose slab also features cup-marks. The complex, which included a wooden house (which had been excavated) is of Bronze Age date.

Excavations

In 1959 the site was excavated and a central pit containing charcoal and cremated bone was found.

References

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Sources

  • McNally, Kenneth (2006). "Ireland's Ancient Stones" (Belfast: Appletree Press). {{ISBN|0-86281-996-2}}