Barrow - ring-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

Part of a complex excavated in 1948 (O'Kelly, 1952). Excavation revealed circular 'very low mound' (diam. 52ft) enclosed by 'round bottomed' fosse (D 1ft; Wth 3ft). This overlay pits, stake-holes, charcoal spreads and fragments of a human skull and 'produced a range of pottery types which date the monument to the Neolithic period' (ibid.); subsequent activity on site of three more phases interpreted as follows: multiple cist cairn (CO027-069---) placed on mound of ringbarrow and within fosse; food vessel burial (CO027-161---) outside fosse; urn burial (CO027-260---) also outside fosse, which was extended to enclose burial. This sequence recently questioned in light of two radiocarbon dates from the site and reclassification of 'Neolithic' pottery as Beaker pottery (Brindley et al., 1987/8, 13-20). Three phases suggested: short term settlement with beaker pottery, pits etc.; multiple cist cairn with food vessel burial to SW; cist reused and cairn modified by enclosing it with fosse, which soon after was extended to enclose urn burial.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009