Structure, Creeveoughter, Co. Donegal

Structure, Creeveoughter, Co. Donegal

On a boggy, south-facing hillslope in Creeveoughter, County Donegal, archaeologists have documented an intriguing prehistoric complex that offers glimpses into Ireland's distant past.

Structure, Creeveoughter, Co. Donegal

The site consists of several stone features scattered across the landscape, with the most prominent being a small hut-like structure measuring 5 metres east to west and 4 metres north to south. This curious dwelling is defined by earthen banks on three sides, whilst its southern edge features three upright stones marking what appears to have been an entrance gap. Just east of this structure, three closely spaced lines of small stones run northwest to southeast for about 7 metres, with hints of a possible fourth line; these low stones, none exceeding 40 centimetres in height, form an unusual pattern whose purpose remains mysterious.

About 150 metres southwest of the main hut lies another fascinating feature: an oval stone setting measuring 9.5 metres north to south and 8 metres east to west. The perimeter stones stand roughly 40 centimetres high, whilst those in the interior reach only half that height and appear to be arranged in paired parallel lines, creating an organised internal structure. The discovery of worked flint pieces around these structures, combined with a bronze spearhead found nearby in 1952, suggests the complex dates to either the Neolithic or Bronze Age periods, placing it somewhere between 4,000 BCE and 500 BCE.

The site gained some notoriety in 1955 when historian Swan mistakenly identified the stone lines as a possible gallery grave, though later archaeological work by Lacy in 1983 corrected this interpretation. Today, the complex sits on boggy land undergoing reclamation, and whilst a third circular stone feature was once documented about 60 metres southeast of the main hut, this has since been removed. The entire complex represents a valuable archaeological record of prehistoric settlement patterns in Donegal, though much about its original purpose and the people who built it remains tantalisingly unknown.

0.0/5

Good to Know

Tags

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of Pete
Pete
I like knowing about my local area, and helping others to learn about theirs too. If you'd like to contribute to this website, please get in touch.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Structure, Creeveoughter, Co. Donegal. 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: 50 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.
Creeveoughter, Co. Donegal
55.14185222, -7.59803316
55.14185222,-7.59803316
Creeveoughter 
Utility Structures 

Related Places