Hilltop enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on top of a drumlin. A large subcircular area is described in gothic lettering as ‘Ancient Burial Ground’ on the 1834 edition of the OS 6-inch map and as a disused Grave Yard in italic lettering on the 1907 edition. This is a large subcircular grass-covered area (dims 111m NW-SE; 91m NE-XW) defined by a scarp (at W: Wth 1.8m; H 1.8m) and hedge. A small bulbous extension at NW (diam. c. 30m) is defined by the same scarp and hedge SW-NW-ENE but it is an integral part of the larger enclosure. The interior and its extension are bisected by a NW-SE field bank and drain, and the ground slopes down steeply to the NE on the NE side of this feature but is more level to the SW. There are entrance gaps at W, NW, NNW and ENE that are probably all modern. A small enclosure (MO026-008002-) against the perimeter at SE-S is probably the burial ground rather than the whole of the large enclosure.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Monaghan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revision: 26 February 2018