Coolcoulaghta Standing Stones
The Coolcoulaghta Standing Stones are a pair of standing stones forming a stone row and National Monument located in County Cork, Ireland.[1][2]
| Coolcoulaghta Standing Stone | |
|---|---|
| Native name Irish: Galláin Chuar Chuallachta | |
  Location of Coolcoulaghta Standing Stone in Ireland | |
| Type | Standing stones (stone row) |
| Location | Coolcoulaghta, Durrus, County Cork, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 51.596667°N 9.543333°W |
| Elevation | 109 m (358 ft) |
| Height | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Built | 2200–600 BC |
| Owner | Office of Public Works |
| Official name | Coolcoulaghta |
| Reference no. | 565 |
Location
Coolcoulaghta Standing Stones stand in a field 3.2 km (2.0 mi) southwest of Durrus.
History
The stones probably date to the Bronze Age period. It points towards Dunbeacon stone circle 400 m (¼ mile) to the west and the stones may have been used for astronomical observation.[3][4]
They were removed in 1980 but the stones were replaced in 1983 by the Office of Public Works, after local outcry, using a plan and elevation made in 1977 by archaeologists of Ordnance Survey Ireland.
The purpose of standing stones is unclear; they may have served as boundary markers, ritual or ceremonial sites, burial sites or astrological alignments.[5]
Description
The stones are both about 1.8 m (6 ft) tall.[6]
A third stone once stood 63 m (70 yd) SSW of the pair; this has since been removed.[7]
References
- "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Celtic studies, history, linguistics and literature". The Academy. 1 January 1988 – via Google Books.
- Riordain, Sean P. O. (30 October 2014). Antiquities of the Irish Countryside. Routledge. ISBN 9781317600596 – via Google Books.
- "Ireland 2. The standing stones of Coolcoulaghta and Dunbeacon stone circle, prehistoric sites south of Durrus near Bantry".
- Ireland, Royal Society of Antiquaries of (1 January 1995). "Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland" – via Google Books.
- Ryan, Áine. "CULTURE Legacy of Lankill". The Mayo News.
- The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map. "Coolcoulaghta".
- Wilson, Mike. "Coolcoulaghta Stone Pair ~ mega-what.com Ancient Sacred Places".