[Wedge tomb, Ballyferriter]

Wedge tomb on Ballyferriter hill. The author describes it as 'a very curious piece of antiquity, once an altar, supposed to have been used for offering sacrifices to the sun' (p. 201).

Image Details

Genre	Scientific or Technical illustration
Technique	Woodcuts
Subject(s)	Antiquities and archaeological sites
Geographical Location	Ballyferriter Hill – Named locality Kerry – County Munster – Province
Keyword(s)	Antiquities, Archaeological sites, Tombs & sepulchral monuments
Colour	Monochrome
Published / created	1839

Bibliographical Details

Travel Account	Rambles in the South of Ireland
Contributor(s)	Henrietta Georgiana Marcia Chatterton — Role: Author of travel text
Note	The precise location of this tomb is unknown. By 1852 it had been destroyed, but the illustration published by Chatterton has allowed it to be identified as a ‘megalithic tomb of the wedge tomb class’. Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland, vol. 4, Ordnance Survey, 1982.
Print or manuscript	Print
Location of image in copy	Vol. 1, p. 189
Source copy	James Hardiman Library, National University of Ireland Galway Special Collections: 914.190481 CHA
Permalink	https://ttce.universityofgalway.ie/irelandillustrated/view/image/ii_image_1368918504

Related text from travel account

[Description of interior of impoverished curate's cottage, visited with the parish priest] <br>In this little cabin we waited till the rain was nearly over, and then started for Bally Ferriter’s hill, with the addition of the interesting-looking curate to our party. <br>The good priest danced up the height like a boy of 14. He is just 65 years of age.<br>On the top of the hill were the remains of a very curious piece of antiquity, once an altar, supposed to have been used for offering sacrifices to the sun. We heartily wished we could have had an opportunity of telling the sun, beforehand, of our intention of visiting his altar; for a more thick, penetrating rain, I think, never was experienced, than fell to our lot while poking over the remains of the old stones, and taking the sketch which is here given. [Vol. 1, p. 188-189]