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| Recently discovered Cursus on Slievenamon highlighted in Red (© Bing Maps) |
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| (© Bing Maps) |
Cursús (the plural of Cursus) have been speculated upon for centuries. The name comes from latin meaning "course" and in the 1700's British antiquarians such as William Stukeley thought they were Roman race tracks and hence the name in latin - Cursus. In Ireland a cursus on the Hill of Tara was named "The Banqueting Hall" by antiquarians as they tried to match monuments on the hill with ones mentioned in the Annals.
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| Cursus at Knockainey, Co. Limerick (© Bing Maps) |
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| (© Bing Maps) |
The high elevation cursús seem to be related to mounds or passage tombs on top of mountains.
A number of uses have been proposed for cursús.
One suggestion that I found interesting by Elizabeth Fitzpatrick recently in 2012, is that they could have been used simply for wild animal coursing (Fitzpatrick, 2012). However this would hardly explain the upland cursús due to the steep slopes associated with them.
A more likely use however is ceremonial. As far back as 1983 when Herity was surveying the Mucklaghs he said they "may have been a ceremonial trackway, possibly used in rituals connected with the trials and inauguration of the King (Herity, 1983).
Could they have been used to "stage manage" how pilgrims or perhaps diplomats from rivals approached one of these royal sites?
Most convincingly to me is an article by Christian Corlett in Archaeology Ireland in 2014.
He outlines new cursús discoveries at Brewell Hill in Co. Kildare, and three in Co. Wicklow. He states that it is "generally believed (but not universally accepted) that cursus monuments were used as formal ceremonial processional avenues". He goes on to say that it is unlikely they were all used in the same way. The three on steep mountain sides (in Co. Wicklow) are visible from a long way off in the landscape. Two of them also lead to possible passage tombs. This then is similar to the Mucklaghs or Banqueting hall which both focus on significant monuments.
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| Cursus at Keadeen Mt, Co. Wicklow (© Bing Maps) |
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| (© Bing Maps) |
The one at Brewells hill doesn't align directly to the hill-top but there is a henge / stone circle on its low summit.
He concludes by saying the cursus were most likely about control both up and down the mountain in a ceremonial sense.
Christain Corlett doesn't stop there with new Cursus discoveries but recently along with Ivor Kenny they discovered a Cursus on Slievenamon in Co. Tipperary. This is detailed in the latest issue of Archaeology Ireland (Summer 2016).
It has been described in archaeology.ie as follows
""On the E mountain slope of Slievenamon. A cairn (TS078-001----) is situated just E of the summit of the mountain and is 150m WNW of the cursus. Another cairn (TS071-021----) is visible 1km to N from the upper end of the cursus and an unclassified megalithic tomb (TS071-064----), though not visible, is located c. 930m to the N. The view NE-E-S is extensive, with the passage tomb at Knockroe (KK034-019001-) c. 10km to the E and the passage tomb at Baunfree (KK034-031----) c. 13m to the SE. Aligned roughly E-W, the monument, running downslope, consists of two roughly parallel stone banks (N bank Wth 1.9m at top; overall Wth 3.3m; H 0.3m; S bank Wth 1.3m at top; overall Wth 2.2-2.9m; H 0.25-0.35m) overgrowth with grass, moss and heather. The banks are 90m apart, though they narrow to 75m at the upper western end. The upper end terminates with a bank (Wth 2.7m at top; overall Wth 5.5m; int. H 1m; ext. H 0.22m) which curves at the NW angle, while at the SW angle there is a gap (Wth 2.7m). The N bank runs E-W from the W end for 118m before turning ESE for the remaining c. 260m while the S bank runs ESE-WNW for its entire length of c. 360m. The upper end of the monument is on a relatively gentle slope, however, the ground level becomes increasingly steeper and both banks appear to terminate at the E end where the ground level becomes very steep. Similar cursus monuments have been identified in Carlow (CW020-026----; CW020-027----); Kildare (KD032-058----) and Wicklow (WI005-124----; WI027-089----)."
After their discoveries in Carlow / Wicklow, the writers of the article thought they would have more success finding others around the country. However to date this is the only additional one they have found. It also mentions that the cursus does not align exactly towards the possible passage tomb on the mountain.
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| Possible passage tomb with its "false" entrance |
They also look at some interesting folklore from the schools Manuscripts regarding Fionn Mac Cumail and the famous race to the top by his suitors.
There are a few different stories;
There are a few different stories;
http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5162114/5155409/5195755
"Finn mac Cumail, having come to age, took upon himself the task of choosing a wife. A public man like him had to cater to the public and he was in sore straits fearing to give hunt to any of the noble families wishing to link their daughter with Finn in the bonds of Holy Matrimony. Having tasted of the Salmon of Knowledge, he was all wise, so he hit upon a good plan. A race would decide who to wed him. He sat on the top of Slievenamon, which is now know as "See Féin" which may be some corruption of Finns' Seat". All the ladies were to race from the ? and the first up was to become his wife.
Then the gathering began old, young, fair, dark, ugly, beautiful, sprightly and lame all came to try and become Finn's wife.
They're off" what a view as all the maidens of Munster set off on their race. The beautiful girls began well, but soon got tired and as some old hag would limp past them shed sneer "Fair and go easy goes far in a day"
On they went the latter tripping the former - three remained to do the east climb - two beautiful girls and a worn, old hag, up still up who'll win what? what? the fair girl has fallen, now a dark-haired caílin & the old woman, oh look she's down the girl hurts her ankle & tries to creep along, but faints. Now the old hag has an open field. Finn must marry her - But no, up the slope come a lovely girls & reaches Finn first and like all nice stories, they were married & lived happily ever afterwards.
(Nobody knew the Finn had instructed his lady love, to run over to Boherbee where the mountain is low & run along the gradual slope, instead of trying to climb the steep precipitous mountain face)"
http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922223/4862196/5020502
"Long ago in the time of Finn and the Fianna their lived a lot of beautiful girls around this district.
One day Finn and his men came along hunting.
All the beautiful girls fell in love with Finn but he gave his heart to one alone - Grainne.
He did not like to hurt the rest of them, so he settled on a plan which would decide the matter.
He arranged that at dawn one morning all the girls would gather at the foot of the hill and race to the top and whichever of them reached the top first he would take her as his bride.
The night before the race he went to Grainne's house and carried her to the top of the hill. The race
started and when the girls reached the top they found that Grainne was there before them and had one.
(There are two endings to the story)
1) Finn married Grainne and they lived happlily ever after
2) The girls were so jealous of Grainne that they all took up stones and threw them at her until they killed her. The stone were piled up on top of her and form a big carn!
"Finn mac Cumail, having come to age, took upon himself the task of choosing a wife. A public man like him had to cater to the public and he was in sore straits fearing to give hunt to any of the noble families wishing to link their daughter with Finn in the bonds of Holy Matrimony. Having tasted of the Salmon of Knowledge, he was all wise, so he hit upon a good plan. A race would decide who to wed him. He sat on the top of Slievenamon, which is now know as "See Féin" which may be some corruption of Finns' Seat". All the ladies were to race from the ? and the first up was to become his wife.
Then the gathering began old, young, fair, dark, ugly, beautiful, sprightly and lame all came to try and become Finn's wife.
They're off" what a view as all the maidens of Munster set off on their race. The beautiful girls began well, but soon got tired and as some old hag would limp past them shed sneer "Fair and go easy goes far in a day"
On they went the latter tripping the former - three remained to do the east climb - two beautiful girls and a worn, old hag, up still up who'll win what? what? the fair girl has fallen, now a dark-haired caílin & the old woman, oh look she's down the girl hurts her ankle & tries to creep along, but faints. Now the old hag has an open field. Finn must marry her - But no, up the slope come a lovely girls & reaches Finn first and like all nice stories, they were married & lived happily ever afterwards.
(Nobody knew the Finn had instructed his lady love, to run over to Boherbee where the mountain is low & run along the gradual slope, instead of trying to climb the steep precipitous mountain face)"
http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922223/4862196/5020502
"Long ago in the time of Finn and the Fianna their lived a lot of beautiful girls around this district.
One day Finn and his men came along hunting.
All the beautiful girls fell in love with Finn but he gave his heart to one alone - Grainne.
He did not like to hurt the rest of them, so he settled on a plan which would decide the matter.
He arranged that at dawn one morning all the girls would gather at the foot of the hill and race to the top and whichever of them reached the top first he would take her as his bride.
The night before the race he went to Grainne's house and carried her to the top of the hill. The race
started and when the girls reached the top they found that Grainne was there before them and had one.
(There are two endings to the story)
1) Finn married Grainne and they lived happlily ever after
2) The girls were so jealous of Grainne that they all took up stones and threw them at her until they killed her. The stone were piled up on top of her and form a big carn!
This heap of stones is called See-fane."
Could it be that similar to the idea of the Roman race-track of the early antiquarians in Britain that this folklore is remembering / trying to explain this large cursus monument as a kind of race track to the top of Slievenamon?
Could it be that similar to the idea of the Roman race-track of the early antiquarians in Britain that this folklore is remembering / trying to explain this large cursus monument as a kind of race track to the top of Slievenamon?
Interestingly enough a cursus recently discovered at Coolasnaghta, Co. Carlow was known locally as "The Witches Slide" - does the folklore around the race to Slievenamon echo this idea of a different way up the hill?
Post-script
As I was writing this blog post, I had a quick look around some of the mountain tops of North Tipp on Bing maps.
I thought I was about to have a large dose of beginners luck when I happened upon a pair of roughly parallel banks on a mountain just south of Rearcross. However after consultation with an expert on upland cursús unfortunately their opinion is that it is likely to be a modern feature.
Hopefully this post will get people onto google and bing maps searching for cursús. However I accept no liability for any loss of eyesight from all the squinting!
Further Reading
Formaoil na Fiann: Hunting Preserves and Assembly Places in Gaelic Ireland
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium, Vol. 32 (2012), pp. 95-118
The Unseen Hill of Ward: new insights from LiDAR data, Steven Davis, Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Winter 2011), pp. 36-40)
A Survey of the Royal Site of Cruachain in Connacht: 1. Introduction, the Monuments and Topography, Michael Herity, The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Vol. 113 (1983), pp. 121-142
Archaeology and Myth: a consideration of the ancient royal site of Rathcroghan, Gerard Mulligan, Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 25, No. 3 (Autumn 2011), pp. 14-17
Some Cursus Monuments in South Leinster, Christian Corlett, Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 28, No. 2 (Summer 2014), pp. 20-25
A Cursus at Slievenamon, Co. Tipperary, Christian Corlett & Ivor Kenny, Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 30, No. 2 (Summer 2016), pp. 40-43
Post-script
As I was writing this blog post, I had a quick look around some of the mountain tops of North Tipp on Bing maps.
I thought I was about to have a large dose of beginners luck when I happened upon a pair of roughly parallel banks on a mountain just south of Rearcross. However after consultation with an expert on upland cursús unfortunately their opinion is that it is likely to be a modern feature.
Hopefully this post will get people onto google and bing maps searching for cursús. However I accept no liability for any loss of eyesight from all the squinting!
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| Cursus on Cullaun Mt 3d view (© Google Maps) |
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| (© Google Maps) |
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Cursus on Cullaun Mt? (© Bing Maps)
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(© Bing Maps)
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Further Reading
Formaoil na Fiann: Hunting Preserves and Assembly Places in Gaelic Ireland
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium, Vol. 32 (2012), pp. 95-118
The Unseen Hill of Ward: new insights from LiDAR data, Steven Davis, Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Winter 2011), pp. 36-40)
A Survey of the Royal Site of Cruachain in Connacht: 1. Introduction, the Monuments and Topography, Michael Herity, The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Vol. 113 (1983), pp. 121-142
Archaeology and Myth: a consideration of the ancient royal site of Rathcroghan, Gerard Mulligan, Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 25, No. 3 (Autumn 2011), pp. 14-17
Some Cursus Monuments in South Leinster, Christian Corlett, Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 28, No. 2 (Summer 2014), pp. 20-25
A Cursus at Slievenamon, Co. Tipperary, Christian Corlett & Ivor Kenny, Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 30, No. 2 (Summer 2016), pp. 40-43
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