Cairn - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

On a high point on a plateau in rough pasture, within a large multiperiod field system (CL009-084001-). This is a well-preserved grass-covered circular cairn (12.5m N-S; 12.3m E-W; H 1.4-1.6m). An old field wall approaching it from the N runs over it, while a grass-covered mound wall extends off it to the NE. The cairn has been the focus of a research excavation. During the first season a cremated adult burial (CL009-084031-) was uncovered between two layers of the cairn material; finds included one complete blue glass bead, three fragments of similar beads and a piece of non-local clear quartz (Grant 2002, 29, no. 112). The second season revealed two structural elements of the cairn: an internal drystone facing and a small number of upright slabs that indicated consolidation of the structure. The investigations also identified two areas of disturbance: an earlier one near the top of the cairn and a second one along the N side. Ancient slippage of cairn material was noted, especially at the drystone face. Fragments of a number of animal bones were recovered as well as three other very small concentrations of cremated bone, presumed to be human. A fragment of water-rolled stone was also found (ibid., 2006, 553, AD9).
Grant (1995, 32) suggests that this cairn (‘Cairn D’) is a focal point within a complex of prehistoric monuments and mound walls that includes two cairns (CL009-084012-) and (CL009-084013-), c. 47m to the SSE and c. 75 to the ESE respectively, a wedge tomb (CL009-084007-), c. 43m to the SW, an unclassified megalithic tomb (CL009-084008-) and possible cist (CL009-084009-), c. 48m and c. 53m to the SW, a standing stone (CL009-084032-), c. 29m to the WSW and a stone row (CL009-084006-), c. 49m to the WSW.

Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 27 April 2022

References

Grant, C. 1995. Mapping a Bronze Age Burren landscape. Archaeology Ireland 9, no. 1, 31-3.

Grant, C. 2006 Fanygalvan/Cahermackirilla. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2003: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 553. Bray. Wordwell.

Grant, C. 2004 Cahermackirilla. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2002: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 29, no. 112. Bray. Wordwell.