In early 2004 St.

Johns Parish Heritage Group and Lecarrow Development Group decided to carry out an investigation into the strange stones, locally called Nellys Rock that stand just off the main Athlone to Roscommon road at Lecarrow. Theresa McDonald, consultant archaeologist with Irish Archaeological Consultancy Services was commissioned to undertake the survey. The resulting report is reproduced here so that readers can appreciate the significance of what the Ordnance Survey quaintly calls The Stones, Lecarrow.

The Stones, Lecarrow.

Site No. R0045-053 045-/04/1. Grid Reference: 19642/25499. Site Name: Knockanyconor Megalithic Structure. Introduction. The site is located in Lecarrow Village in a small copse, west of a laneway that borders the main Athlone to Roscommon road. The site is recorded as 'Stones' on the Ordnance Survey 6" maps (OS 45) and similarly on the new 1:5000 Discovery Series maps (No. 40) It is recorded as a Megalithic Structure in the Sites and Monuments Record of the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Access to the site is via a small gate that leads off the laneway into a field containing a substantial amount of limestone rock outcrop. A former Mill stream runs at the bottom of the field dose to a derelict Ball Alley. Westwards the ground is relatively flat but rises dramatically to a low gravel ridge (esker) which is presently being quarried for sand and gravel. The landscape is comprised of pasture with lots of cattle and sheep grazing in nearby fields. A fair amount of gorse in visible in the surrounding fields and there is substantial tree cover, particularly on the west and north-west. Sites & Monuments Record The site is recorded as R0045-053045-/04/1 19643/25490 Knockanyconor Megalithic Structure. Methodology This consisted of a preliminary survey and assessment of two monuments and miscellaneous other sites within the field described above. Field Survey The site consists of six distinct elements:(i) A partially destroyed Portal Tomb (ii) An unclassified site, reminiscent of a Cist or small Passage Tomb (iii) The remains of a substantial wall running east-west but robbed out midway along its length. (iv) The remains of two concentric circles on an elevated area west of Sites (i) and (ii). (v) Part of a stone wall located at the SW edge of the circle (vi) The remains of several stone alignments that may be natural Although the field has, as previously stated, a substantial amount of limestone rock outcrop, the arrangement of some of the limestone boulders would seem to be man-made. However, more intensive survey will be required prior to any firm conclusions being reached.

It is possible that the concentric circles are natural features arising from outcrops of underlying limestone but the proximity of this site to that of the Portal Tomb and unclassified structure is significant and merits further investigation. It may also be that the field is part of a ritual complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age date and in this connection it would be useful to ascertain the type and provenance of artifacts that have been recorded from this area of Roscommon. The Portal Tomb. The site consists of a huge capstone slab resting against two portal stones, a leaning stone that is probably the back stone of the chamber and another similarly large slab that may be a side stone. All the elements of a classic Portal Tomb are present. The tomb is similar to Carrickglass Portal tomb, also called The Labby Rock' located close to the Cromlech Lodge Hotel in Sligo.

The Portal Tomb known as Nellys Rock after an old woman who is The Unclassified site. reported to have lived under it during the The Unclassified site consists of a large boulder famine. resting on a series of small orthostats that form a rough circular chamber similar to the small Passage Tombs at Carrowmore in Co. Sligo. Some small stones, possibly cairn material are visible in the ground surrounding the site. While it is difficult to be certain, the stone wall referred to above seems to be associated with this site and is reminiscent of the pre-historic field walls associated with Court Tombs, notably that excavated by Greta Byrne at Rathlacken in North Mayo. Unclassified site. Tomb sometimes known as a boulder burial.

The stone wall. The stone wall runs from the western extremity of the field towards the copse of trees where the Portal Tomb and Unclassified site are located. It has been partly robbed out midway along its length. Approaching the Unclassified site, it forms a rightangle and links itself to this site. Although only two stones remain in the right-angled part of the

line of boulders, it seems clear that there is a direct association between the wall and the site. However, this stone wall may be later in date than the site and the fact that it forms a right-angle at the junction between it and the site may be related to a later enclosure and post date the Unclassified site. The Concentric Circles. Some 50 yards west of the probable Portal Tomb and south of the stone wall is what appear to be two concentric circles sloping towards the south west. The remains of a wall can be seen at the south western edge of the outer circle. The site may represent an enclosure or the remains of a stone circle.

Stones running NE SW. Part of a stone circle?

Stone wall (2). The remains of a stone wall is located at the south western edge of the concentric circles referred to above and consist of c. 5 orthostatic stones set close together in the form of a wall. Their relationship to the circles is unclear and it is possible that they are the remains of modem clearance. Stone alignments. There seems to be patterning of some of the limestone boulders within the field, particularly north and east of the Portal Tomb and Unclassified site. An instrument survey of the field would be necessary in order to determine if these are natural or man-made alignments.

Part of a robbed-out stone wall?

Discussion.

An article by N.W. English in the Journal of the Old Athlone Society (Vol. 1) 1969 lists all known megalithic tombs in the Westmeath, Offaly and Roscommon area. Having visited the site at Knockanyconor, he said that the site was unmarked on the map and that there was no local tradition concerning it. He described the site as being in a collapsed state, "the uprights leaning at various angles and the capstones partially collapsed'. As there is only one capstone associated with the Portal Tomb, he seems to have included the capstone of the adjacent Unclassified site. Although he said there was no local tradition concerning this site, he includes a quote from a local pamphlet:'At Lecarrow, by the roadside on the bank of the mill stream is a cromlech, a very large flat stone resting on supports, near it an immense leaning pillar stone-grave and gravestone say some; altar and object of worship, say others. I heard that a poor woman, during last century, took refuge and reared a child under the great flat stone'. The site described by English seems to be the structure now known at 'The Stones' OS Map: 1.50,000 Series. He said that the nature of the monument was uncertain and following the prevailing megalithic tomb classification at that time declined to accept it as a megalithic tomb. Since then numerous sites that fall outside the rigid megalithic classification of de Valera & 6 Nualainn (Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland) have been accepted as megalithic tombs under the "Unclassified" label. In the present context, this label would be assigned to the site immediately west of the collapsed Portal Tomb. The Stones' which seem to represent both the Portal Tomb and the unclassified site are located in an area of fairly dense archaeological sites, both prehistoric sites e.g. Skregg Passage Tomb and sites of the Early Medieval and later periods e.g. Rinduin. A Pillar stone of possible Bronze Age date is supposedly located on the east side of the village of Lecarrow (English, 1969). It is not surprising therefore to find a complex of prehistoric sites at Lecarrow. Interestingly, there is a reference in the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquarians of Ireland (Vol. 13), 1927 regarding discovery of the unburnt remains of a young powerfully built adult male beneath the central stone of a small stone circle at Lecarrow. Subsequent to the above discovery, 2 small Bronze Age urns containing burnt human bone were found near the northern edge of this circle and placed on limestone rock 4 feet below ground surface. The exact location of this stone circle is unknown and there is no record of a stone circle in the Lecarrow area on the 1:50,000 Discovery Series maps. It is possible therefore that the concentric circles refereed to above may represent the remains of this stone circle. The proximity of a number of Barrow cemeteries south-west of the Stones near Toberdan and elsewhere in the vicinity strongly points to the area being used as a ritual landscape in the prehistoric period. Again, this is not surprising considering that Roscommon has within its borders the site of Rathcroghan, one of the foremost ritual landscapes in Ireland. Recommendation. The field in which the above sites are located warrants further investigation, initially perhaps by means of a contour survey at 50 cms intervals. This could be done with an EDM/Total Station. Depending on the results of the contour survey, a geophysical survey could follow to ascertain the exact number of sites in the field and to provide information on sites no longer visible at ground level but present in sub surface layers. Both of these techniques are non-invasive and would need to be carried out prior to archaeological excavation. Excavation by a qualified archaeologist under license from the Department of the Environment and Local Government would be necessary prior to any reconstruction of either the Portal Tomb or the Unclassified site.

References. 1. English, N.W. 1969. Megalithic Tombs Near Athlone. Past, Present and Spurious. Journal of the Old Athlone Society. 2. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. 1927 Vol. 13. 3. Photographs by Theresa McDonald. 2004.