Lettered Cave
| Lettered Cave | |
| Fermanagh | |
|---|---|
| H08845047 | |
| Co-ordinates: | 54°24’9"N, 7°51’52"W |
The Lettered Cave (or the 'Inscribed Cave' is a is a minor and partly artificial cave feature on the slopes of Knockmore in Fermanagh, which is more noted for its archaeological than its landscape interest.[1] It is a scheduled ancient monument.
The cave is found sixty yards from the summit of the downland of Knockmore.[2] The rocks in which it is formed is Knockmore Limestone.
The cave is named for the art and writing of varying age inscribed on the walls. It was investigated by William Wakeman (1866–70)[3][4][5] and Thomas Plunkett (1878 and 1898)[6] The cave, described in the paper by Wakeman in 1868 as lying 'in the midst of a desolate, heath-clad highland, which extends over a considerable portion of northern Fermanagh, with no trace of cultivation, ancient or modern" .[2] He also describes it as situated beside a lake four miles and a quarter to the west and north of the police station of Bohoe (Boho).[2]
The summit of Knockmore contains at least fifteen small caves which have been the subject of archaeological visits since the late 19th century,[6] of which the Lettered Cave is the most significant.
The art and writing of varying ages inscribed on the walls ranges from early Celtic and Christian designs to simple marking of names and dates.
References
- ↑ Knockmore–Pollaraftra; Lettered Cave: Earth Science Conservation Review (via Habitas) |accessdate=4 October 2010}}
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wakeman, William F. (1870). Lough Erne, Enniskillen, Belleek, Ballyshannon, and Bundoran: with Routes from Dublin to Enniskillen and Bundoran, by Rail or Steamboat. Dublin: Mullany, John. pp. 117–120. https://archive.org/stream/lougherneennisk00wakegoog#page/n131/mode/1up. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ↑ Wakeman, W. F. (1870). "On the cave of Knockmore, Co. Fermanagh". Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy (Dublin: Gill, M. H.) X: 229–232. https://archive.org/stream/proceedingsroya01acadgoog#page/n280/mode/2up/search/cave. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
- ↑ Wakeman, William F. (1891). Hand-Book of Irish Antiquities, Pagan and Christian; especially of such as are of easy access from the Irish Metropolis (2nd ed.). Dublin: Hodges, Figgis and Co. pp. 35–39. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/william-f-william-frederick-wakeman/a-hand-book-of-irish-antiquities-pagan-and-christian-eka/page-3-a-hand-book-of-irish-antiquities-pagan-and-christian-eka.shtml.
- ↑ Jones et al. 1997, p. 22
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Jones et al. 1997, p. 16