Mound, Ruanes, Co. Cork

Co. Cork |

Ritual/Ceremonial

Mound, Ruanes, Co. Cork

In a field at Ruanes in north Cork, a low oval mound sits quietly in pasture, roughly thirteen metres from north to south and eleven metres east to west, rising just under half a metre from the surrounding ground.

What makes it quietly puzzling is the soil itself: dark, charcoal-enriched material that does not fit the profile of a fulacht fiadh, the type of prehistoric burnt mound found in their thousands across Ireland, typically identified by the presence of fire-cracked stone and associated with outdoor cooking or hot-water processes. Something was burned here, or buried here, but the evidence does not slot neatly into the most familiar category.

The mound sits roughly a hundred metres south-west of a spring, a proximity that is worth noting given how frequently water sources appear alongside ancient activity in the Irish landscape. More intriguing still, a second mound of similar dimensions lies approximately forty metres to the east, suggesting this was not a solitary, accidental feature. Whether the two were in use at the same time, or served related purposes, remains an open question. Without excavation, the charcoal-rich deposits keep their own counsel.

Rated 0 out of 5

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of Pete F
Pete F
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Mound, Ruanes, Co. Cork. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 100 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Advertisement