Clare Island Survey — History and Archaeology. 2 19 



to be a natural formation. At the head of the long valley in which 

 Loughanaphuca lies, I found a cist-like group of flat stones, none more than 

 3 feet high or long, but they formed no definite chamber. It lies near the 

 junction of the two chief brooks, which flow down the slope through a network 

 of former channels, choked with hill debris, to the beautiful creeks, islets, and 

 natural pillars, under the colossus of Budawanna. 



At a turn of the road to the lighthouse, not far from where it is joined by 

 the bohereen through the Maum valley, from the abbey, near the southern 

 border of Ballytoohymore, stands a low, rude pillar-stone. It is probably 

 buried for some feet by the raising of the ground by tillage and banking up 

 behind the fence. It is a fairly regular block of grey conglomerate, coated 

 with moss and lichen, and fairly smooth. It measures from 3 feet to 4 feet 

 1 inch high, and 36 inches by 31 inches thick, standing at the west fence of 

 the road at a slightly rising ground. I searched in vain for any set stones in 

 the curious series of deep valleys between the lighthouse and Croaghmore, and 

 on the central valley and the southern slopes of Knocknaveen. 



Though not sure of its age, I had best note here the circle of moderate-sized 

 stones set in the sward 300 feet inland from the cliff-edge, where the long 

 spur runs down to the curious rock-pillar of Budawanna. It measures 25 feet to 

 27 feet across, being slightly irregular, with more conspicuous blocks, sugges- 

 tive of " pointers " set to the north and the south-west. Without excavation 

 it is impossible to assert its age or character, whether a hut-site or a burial- 

 circle. Down the slope to the south, and eastward from the creek at 

 Budawanna, in a little round hollow, are evident remains of a hut of a primitive 

 design, whatever be its actual age. The western and a small portion of 

 the eastern segment, formed of fairly large blocks set in the ground so as to 

 form a smooth, curved face inside, still remain ; it was divided into two by a 

 partition-wall, evidently an afterthought, and measures 19 feet to 21 feet 

 across north and south, and 16 feet 6 inches east and west. Very usual 

 dimensions. 



Lastly, an apparently natural hillock near the old green road, behind 

 Knocknaveen, is reputed to be a fort, and near it a bronze spear-head was 

 found by Mr. MacCabe and Mr. MacGreal, and sent to the National Museum. 

 When found it was sticking prominently out of the sward. 



Cliff Forts. (Plate III.) 



There are no forts marked as such by either the old or recent Ordnance 

 Survey. The appearance of suitable headlands and rocks, coupled with the 

 occurrence of the name Bun, encouraged me to expect promontory forts, nor 



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