Leacht

The National Monuments Service's description

Located in the W half of a burial ground (MA039-107003-). This leacht was discovered within the burial ground during an excavation (03E0139) in 2003 in advance of a road realignment project on the N26 (Nolan 2008, 89-101). It consisted of a roughly square setting (1.8m by 1.8m) of stones, surviving to only two courses in height. Two fragments of quern stones were incorporated into the walling. It served as a ritual or memorial altar, and was associated with a concentration of over 700 votive stones, mostly small water-rolled cobbles, many of quartz or quartzite, which were deposited there by mourners. Radiocarbon dating indicates that the burial ground was established sometime in the late 15th century, and continued in use to the early 20th century; the final phase of its use was as a children’s burial ground (MA039-107----). The leach dates to the earlier phases of the burial ground, although the exact date its construction is uncertain (Nolan 2004; Nolan 2008, 97-98).

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 14 April 2020

References

Nolan, J. 2004 Licence no. 03E0139. Preliminary report of archaeological excavations at children's burial ground, Tonybaun Td., Co. Mayo. RMP no. MA039-107. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service.

Nolan, J. 2006 Excavation of a children’s burial ground at Tonybaun, Ballina, Co. Mayo. In: O’Sullivan, J. and Stanley, M. (eds.) Settlement, Industry and Ritual. Archaeology and the National Roads Authority Monograph Series No. 3, 88-101. Dublin: National Roads Authority.