 View looking north-east | |
 Interactive map of Castlenalacht Stone Row | |
| Location | Parish ofInnishannon,County Cork |
|---|---|
| Region | Ireland |
| Type | Stone row |
| History | |
| Periods | Bronze Age |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Good |
| Ownership | Private |
| Public access | Yes |
Castlenalacht Stone Row is an alignment (orstone row) of four tall and free-standing stones located on a hilltop in thetownland of Castlenalacht,Innishannon parish, 6km north ofBandon, County Cork, Ireland.[1] It dates from theBronze Age (c. 3000–4000 years ago) and is the largest of the over 80 stone rows in south-west Ireland.[2]
The four Castlenalacht stones are arranged in ascending order of height across a distance of 13.4 m (44 ft). They measure from 3.4 m (11 ft) to 13.4 m (44 ft), making the row the largest, in both length and height, in the south-west Ireland region where the majority of Irish stone rows are found.[2][3] The site is placed on one of the area's highest hilltops; according to the archaeologistClive Ruggles, the builders tended to favour locations where the axis, from largest to smallest stone, leads to a relatively distant (usually more than 5.0 km (3.1 mi) away)horizon.[4]
A fifth and much smaller stone lying prostrate between the smaller two is of a different type of stone and can be assumed to have been placed at a later date.[5]
Like all stone rows in Ireland, the Castlenalacht stones were erected in theBronze Age (c. 3000–4000 years ago, during the same period thatstone circles were built) and is aligned on a north-east/south-west axis,[6] with the largest stone positioned at the south-east side.[7] Unusually, the Castlenalacht stones are positioned slightly off their axis.[8] The precise functions of these constructions are unknown; most archaeologists assume a ceremonial or ritualistic purpose.[7]
A nearby field contains a large and near contemporary boulder-burial stone, known as the "Garranes Boulder burial", which is supported by three smaller stones measuring from 40 cm (16 in) to 60 cm (24 in) in height.[9]