450 



Proceedinya of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Distribution". 



As formerly noted, the majority of the Clare dolmens run in a 

 broad band from the Barren, south-eastward to Slieve Bernagh ; few are 

 found on either side of the line. Unlike those of Spain and Portugal^ 

 the monuments lie rather inland than on the coast. Tliey most 

 abound where the plank-like slabs of the Burren and the gritstone 

 blocks of Eastern Clare lay ready for their construction. It is true that 

 suitable slabs also lie loose on the cliffs in Moyarta, where only one 

 dolmen is known to exist; but the monuments mainly observe geological 

 conditions. From Kilkee to Calluragh, Carncreagh, and Kiltumper, 

 for over 30 miles, none remain. More strange is the scarcity between 

 Corofin and Crusheen ; those of Tradree were possibly "improved 

 off the land" by agriculture ; but probable traces of one have been 

 noted below. 



Types. 



The predominant form is that of a stone box, usually tapering 

 and sloping eastward, and made of four or more slabs and a cover. 

 Bally casheu, however, widens, and Poulnabrone slopes westward. 

 The southern dolmen of Baur has an inner cist at the east end. 



The typical "box" occurs in a circle of slabs set on edge, as 

 at Parknabinnia (iv.) and Kylane, in a tapering or irregular fence of 

 slabs, as at Iskancullin, and the levelled giant's grave at Miltown, 

 or in a kerbing of low blocks, as at the pillared dolmen of Ballyganner 

 and several others. It is also found within dry-stone ring-walls, as 

 at Creevagh, where it occupies the place of honour in the garth, a 

 rock-cut avenue leading into the fort to it ; or built into the wall 

 with a " creep" passage opening into it, evidently merely adapted to 

 some use in the later fort. A rock-cut avenue also runs from the fort 

 of Caheraneden to a fallen cist in Ballyganner JN'orth. 



The very small "boxes" occur in cairns, as at Berneens, 

 Poulaphuca, and Leanna, recalling that in which the Leabhar na 

 hUidhre says King Pothach Airgtheach was buried about a.d. 285. 

 They are rarely over 6 feet long, and some so short as to be mere 

 "bone-boxes.'' Double-walled cists occur, as at Berneens, Tully- 

 commaun, Derrymore, and Cappaghbaun. 



The true " long grave " is badly represented in Clare (as at 

 Ballyogan,^ Killokennedy, Ballykelly, Formoyle, and perhaps 



' Pio.c. xxiv.(C), p. 92. 



