Page 54 - GAHS Journal Volume 9

EARLY BRONZE AGE BURIALS IN WICKLOW

standing upright and others erected on their long axis. The circle
is largely intact on the northern side but is less well preserved to
the south. It consists of 29 substantial stones and a number of
smaller fragments while some loose boulders occur in the interior
which is otherwise featureless. Wedge marks and bore holes in
several stones indicate an attempt to deliberately destroy the
site, probably in the nineteenth century. The entrance (1.30m
wide) appears to be between two exceptionally large quartz
boulders on the eastern side. Abutting onto the outer face of the
circle is an earthen bank (diameter 40m) the terminals or ends
of which encompass the quartz boulders of the entrance. Some
boulders along the outer edge of the bank may indicate an outer
revetment or retaining wall. To the east (15.80m) of the entrance
is a single upright stone. A field bank cuts across the outer edge
of the bank on the south side.

Ground plan of the ceremonial circle at Castleruddery Lower (Sarah Cross)
50