Maulatanvally

Nearest town:
Rosscarbery (8km SE)
OS reference:
W2605344479
OS sheets:
86, 89
Latitude:
51° 38' 53.17 N
Longitude:
9° 4' 6.53 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Maulatanvally (Standing Stones) by gjrk

Looking down at the monument from the higher ground to the northwest.

Image credit: Gordon Kingston
gjrk
gjrk Nov 21, 2008
Image of Maulatanvally (Standing Stones) by gjrk

The ‘internal’ view of the blade-like, free, upright stone.

Image credit: Gordon Kingston
gjrk
gjrk Nov 21, 2008
Image of Maulatanvally (Standing Stones) by gjrk

The western side of the setting, showing the two quartz stones, one free and one buried in the hedge.

Image credit: Gordon Kingston
gjrk
gjrk Jan 13, 2008
Image of Maulatanvally (Standing Stones) by gjrk

The eastern side of the arrangement showing the hedgefast quartz pillar rising over the prostrate sandstone.

Image credit: Gordon Kingston
gjrk
gjrk Jan 13, 2008
Image of Maulatanvally (Standing Stones) by gjrk

Glanbrack is the pale shape in the corner of the field to the east.

Image credit: Gordon Kingston
gjrk
gjrk Jan 13, 2008
Image of Maulatanvally (Standing Stones) by gjrk

Lettergorman South can be seen near the hilltop to the north.

Image credit: Gordon Kingston
gjrk
gjrk Jan 13, 2008

Articles

Maulatanvally

gjrk
gjrk Nov 22, 2008

Possibly the most intriguing site in the whole Argideen/Rosscarbery area – four stones, three of quartz; a unit of two sets of parallel pairs, rising from the spine of the hill. Two of the quartz stones, the southernmost of each pair, are included in the fence. The western rock is recumbent but the eastern is standing, 2.3m distant*. The third juts 1.4m north of and parallel to, the western stone.

The remaining slab, of sandstone, was recently tumbled (by cattle) from a position 1m north of the eastern rock and its southern tip now points to the base of its partner in the wall. All, assuming the recumbent quartz is fallen, would have stood in an ENE-WSW arrangement of fairly uniform appearance – each around 1m in height.

The slope is east facing but, at this particular location on the hill, it is possible to see clearly to the north, east and south. The view is only restricted to the west. It is also a position in which the monument itself could be seen from many directions, but from a distance. If the quartz boulder at Lettergorman S is an original feature its placing may reflect this – the white stones of Maulatanvally are bright on the horizon if you gaze out from the circle and over the top of the rock.

*All measurements taken from Archaeological Inventory of Cork, 1992; No.921, 112.

Miscellaneous

Maulatanvally
Standing Stones
gjrk
gjrk Dec 13, 2008

“There was an ancient forest which no axe had ever touched, and in the heart of it a cave, overgrown with branches and osiers, forming a low arch with its rocky walls, rich in bubbling springs. Hidden in this cave dwelt the serpent of Mars, a creature with a wonderful golden crest; fire flashed from its eyes, its body was all puffed up with poison, and from its mouth, set with a triple row of teeth, flickered a three-forked tongue.”

Cadmus, son of King Agenor of Sidon, struggled with and defeated the monster...

“Then Pallas, the hero’s patroness, suddenly appeared, gliding down through the upper air. She told him to plough up the earth, and to sow the serpent’s teeth, as seeds from which his people would spring.”

from ‘The Founding of Thebes’; Ovid, Metamorphoses, Book III.

Sites within 20km of Maulatanvally

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