Barrow - ring-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

On a slight N-S ridge at the highest point of the Rathcroghan plateau. Subcircular grass-covered mound (dims 17.3m N-S; 12.9m E-W; H 1.2-1.5m) defined by a berm (Wth 3.4m at N to 6m at E; H 0.7m at S to 1.4m at N). This is surrounded by another berm (Wth 2.3-3.3m; H 0.1m at E to 0.7m at W), with an outer bank (Wth 2m; H 0.1-0.2m) SE-SW (max. ext. dims 37.7m N-S; 37.3m E-W). A quarry damages the perimeter at NW (total H 1.8m at S to 3.6m at N). (Knox 1911, 234-5; Herity 1983, 130; 1988, 134, Toberrory 11; Waddell 1983, 35; 1988, 12, No. 25)

Geophysical survey confirmed that the berms are shallow fosses with outer banks, and that there may be a third outer fosse. However, no evidence of internal structures was recovered, apart from what may have been intense burning at the summit of the mound. Archaeological testing (08E0867) on a relict field bank with a ditches on the N side c. 120m to the NW produced no conclusive results but suggests that the field system may be post-medieval in date (McCarthy 2012a). Archaeological monitoring (E004965) of the removal of farm buildings and the restoration of grass c. 170m to the SE produced no related material (Murphy 2019; excavations.ie 2019:594). (Waddell et al. 2009, 104-112)

See the attached images taken from the N in Summer (001) and Winter (005), and an aerial image taken from the NE (006).

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 5 February, 2013
Amended: 29 January, 2020; 28 October 2020

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 21/1934), and is now a National Monument in state ownership: No. 294.

References

Herity, M. 1988 A survey of the royal sites of Cruachain in Connacht Roscommon. IV. Ancient field systems at Rathcroghan and Carnfreee. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 117-118, 67-84.

Herity, M. 1983 A survey of the royal site of Cruachain in Connacht, 1. Introduction, the monuments and topography. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 113, 121-42.

Waddell, J. 1988 Rathcroghan in Connacht. Emania 5, 5-18.

Waddell, J. 1983 Rathcroghan - a royal site in Connaught. Journal of Irish Archaeology 1, 21-46.

McCarthy, M. 2012a Archaeological excavation and monitoring. Corracreigh Group water scheme. M. McCarthy. Unpublished report, National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Licence no. 08E0867.

Waddell, J., Fenwick, J. and Barton, K. 2009 Rathcroghan: archaeological and geophysical survey in a ritual landscape. Dublin. Wordwell.

Knox, H.T. 1911 The Croghans and Some Connacht Raths and Cashels. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 41, 93-116, 205-40, 301-42.

Murphy, D. 2019 Archaeological monitoring of Improvement Works at Toberrory, Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon. Licence No. E004965. Unpublished report, ACS