Barrow - ring-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

A raised circular area (diam. c. 20m) containing a small central mound (diam. 3.2m), defined by an inner bank, a fosse, and traces of slight outer bank (overall diam. 32m). Partial excavation by O'Riordáin (1950, 259-269: Site 6) revealed a two-period monument. Phase 1: comprised a low central mound of earth and stone covering the extended inhumation of an adult (head to NW), enclosed by two concentric fosses (c. 6m and c. 8m from the centre) and two smaller fosses close to the central mound - a possible multiple ring-barrow. O'Riordáin suggested that the larger fosses had external banks and that the smaller fosses provided material for the central mound. Phase 2: a cemetery of twelve extended inhumations (head to W), including two children, three adults, two adult females and four adult males was enclosed by the large fosse and bank visible today, and the central mound was also enlarged during this phase. Finds (none directly associated with burials) included six pieces of flint (two worked), one polychrome glass bead (white, yellow and blue), several sherds of medieval pottery and three other sherds with horizontal-line decoration.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011

References

Ó Ríordáin 1950, S.P. 1950 Excavation of some earthworks on the Curragh, Co. Kildare. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 53 C 2, 249-77.