Mound

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on the edge of a cliff overlooking the E side of Lacken Bay. The long axis of the mound is oriented E–W and extends perpendicular to the cliff edge.
A low, elongated mound (c. 69.3m E–W; c. 8-11m N–S; H 1.2m) was discovered in 1990 during the Fás-sponsored construction of a road which cut through the mound. Two cist graves (MA008-010002-; MA008-010003-) were exposed beneath the mound, and a rescue excavation of the cists was carried out by the National Museum in the same year (Cahill and Sikora 2011, 102-6). In 1991 another short excavation (E000617) was undertaken to investigate a number of upright stones exposed on the S side of the mound (Walsh, 1991). During the later excavation, a narrow cutting revealed a setting of five slabs, set on edge in an E–W row, which may have formed part of a kerb or revetment to the mound. A charcoal-rich layer (MA008-010004-), associated with burnt stone, was found immediately outside the row of stones. A number of possible chert implements were recovered.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 1 July 2019

References

Walsh, G. 1991 Excavations in the vicinity of a long burial mound at Carrowsteelagh, Lackan, County Mayo (E617) July 1991. Unpublished excavation report submitted to NMS.

Cahill, M. and Sikora, M. (eds) 2011 Breaking ground, finding graves - reports on the excavations of burials by the National Museum of Ireland, 1927-2006, 2 vols. Dublin. Wordwell Ltd. in association with the National Museum of Ireland.