Burnt mound

The National Monuments Service's description

On a gently SW-facing slope. This monument is located in the SE corner of a field which has recently been re-seeded. It comprises a large, irregularly-shaped area (dims. c.16m NE-SW; c.15m NW-SE) of dark soil with a small number of reddish, heat-shattered stones visible. The remainder of the soil in the field is generally light brown in colour.

At the NE side of this area is a newly-dug narrow, shallow drain (Wth. 0.45m; D 0.2m) with an adjacent newly-constructed access laneway. On the floor of the drain the soil is much darker and there are at least six concentrations of heat-shattered stones. Immediately beyond the laneway is a field boundary aligned NW-SE. In its SW face is a length of darker soil interspersed with numerous heat-shattered stones (L c.8.5m; H c.0.5m). This is not visible in the NE face.

No other features or artifacts were identified. The landowner, Mr. Ferguson, told me that the extent of the monument, the remains in the drain and the section in the field boundary were much clearer when the field was wet following rainfall.

Mr. Ferguson said that this monument had been known about by his family for generations. He also told me of a local tradition that this is the location of a battle between inhabitants of Scalp Mountain and Mouldy Hill, both of which are located a short distance from the monument.

This is almost certainly the remains of a burnt mound or fulacht fia.

Compiled by: Patrick F. O'Donovan

Date of upload: 04 October 2013