Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Concentric enclosure
An Carn Mór Thiar, County Galway, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- An Carn Mór Thiar
- County
- Galway
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.30091, -8.88680
- SMR number
- GA083-079----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
In an area of pastureland and outcropping limestone sloping to the SW. The M6 motorway is immediately to the S of the field in which the monument lies. This subcircular concentric enclosure (max. dims. c. 70m N-S; c. 65m E-W) is not marked on the OS maps but is clearly visible on aerial photographs (https://binged.it/2oxnmh0 last accessed 29 March 2017) and it was previously noted by Sutton (2009, 187). It is defined by two banks of earth and stone with a wide space between the banks. The inner bank (base Wth 2.5m; top Wth 1.16m; int. H 0.17m; ext. H 0.19m) is visible from ENE to S to SW. No visible surface trace is evident from SW to N to ENE where the monument is densely overgrown with thorn bushes. There is no trace of a fosse. The outer bank (base Wth 3.35m; top Wth 1.25m; int. H 0.23m; ext. H 0.16m) survives as flat spread of earth and grass-covered boulders and is visible from ENE to S to WNW. It is cut by a field wall at WNW and ENE and to the N of the wall it is difficult to follow its line due to dense overgrowth. The area between the banks is generally broad and flat (Wth 13.3m). A possible causewayed entrance feature (Wth 1.9m) is visible between the banks at E. It is defined by two low banks of grass-covered boulders; the S bank (base Wth 3.1m; top Wth 1m; int. 0.19m; ext. H 0.18m) is more well-defined than the N bank (base Wth 2.62m; top of Wth 1.27m; int. H 0.14m; ext. H 0.08m). Most of the interior of the monument is densely overgrown with thorn bushes and a possible hollow or pit, also overgrown, is evident in the W sector. Traces of a field wall associated with a possible field system (GA083-079001-) extend from the outer bank at S. An enclosure lies c. 85m to the SW.
Compiled by: Olive Alcock
Date of upload: 29 March 2017
References
Sutton, B. 2009 Carnmore West: Cashel, souterrain and multi-phase kiln. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2006: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 187-88, No. 767. Dublin. Wordwell.
Nearby in the register
- Field systemunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Hut siteunder 1 mi
- Castle - unclassifiedunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.