Barrow - stepped barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

On a prominent and steep gorse-covered hill with wide views, at the E end of a spur in an area of pastureland with overgrowth from N to E. Hachured and named 'Knockastoolery' on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map—this name perhaps deriving from Cnoc an Stualaire, 'the hill of the gallan or high stone' (Cunningham 1980, 86). Listed as 'Enclosure' in the RMP (1996). This subcircular stepped barrow (53m ENE-WSW; 50m NNW-SSE) comprises a three-levelled central mound (H 3.4-4m) surrounded by a fosse and outer bank. The fosse (Wth 2.2-3.5m) is traceable from SW to NW and at E. The overgrown, round-topped outer bank (Wth 6.3m; H 0.5-0.6m) is best preserved from SW to NW, while it is lower (Wth 4m; int. H 0.3; ext. H 0.4m) from NNE to SSE. Elsewhere there is no trace of the bank, while recent cattle activity has levelled it at the NE and opened gaps at the SE/SSE. The subcircular basal tier of the central mound (c. 35m ENE-WSW; c. 34m NNW-SSE; H 1-2m) is flat-topped. Rising within the E two thirds of this platform is a subcircular second tier (diam. 20.8-22m) defined by a scarp (H c. 1m); in the E part of this tier another scarp (H c. 1m) rises to a third subcircular tier (10.5m E-W). At the centre of this uppermost tier is a standing stone (CL008-062002-).

The following image has been uploaded:
CL008-062001-_01.jpg Aerial view of barrow from (ASI photo, SMR file)
CL008-062001-_02.jpg View from NE with standing stone (photo: John Tunney 2018)
CL008-062001-_03.jpg Overview from SE (photo: John Tunney 2018)
CL008-062001-_04.jpg View from NE (photo: John Tunney 2018)

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 25 October 2022

References

Cunningham, G. 1980 Burren journey West. Shannonside Mid-Western Regional Tourism Organisation.