Excavation - miscellaneous

The National Monuments Service's description

Located adjacent to an elongated mound (MA008-010001-), on a cliff edge overlooking the E side of Lacken Bay. Two cist graves (MA008-010002-; MA008-010003-), which underlay the mound, were excavated in 1990 by the National Museum in the same year (Cahill and Sikora 2011, 102-6). In 1991 another short excavation (E000617) was undertaken. It was confined to a small area on the S side of the mound, c. 6m from its mid point, where a number of large upright stones were exposed by road works (Walsh, 1991). A narrow cutting (2m N–S; 1.5m E–W) revealed a setting of five slabs, set on edge in an E–W row. These may have formed part of a kerb or revetment to the mound. A compacted charcoal-rich layer (T 0.05M), containing small fragments of burnt wood and small burnt stones, was found immediately outside the row of stones. It was overlain by thin sandy and gravelly layers containing charcoal fragments. A number of chert implements were recovered (Walsh, 1991).

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 15 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 Unpublished excavation report submitted to NMS.