Moated site

The National Monuments Service's description

Marked as a circular enclosure (diam. c. 30m) on the 1837 and 1929 eds of the OS 6-inch map and situated at the crest of the N-facing slope of a broad W-E spur. This is a rectangular grass-covered area (dims 50m NNE-SSW; 27.5m WNW-ESE) defined by a NNE-SSW field bank at W, a scarp (Wth 3.8m; H 0.4m) at E, an earthen bank (Wth 4.4m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 0.7m) and hedge at S, and a band of nettles (Wth 2m) at N. It is divided into two by a grass-covered E-W ditch or depression (Wth 4m; D 0.3m) and the field bank at W probably truncates the monument. Geophysical survey (09R145) confirms that it was rectangular and surrounded by a fosse or ditch (Wth c. 3m), which extends off to the S (L c. 50) from the centre of the S side (Barton 2009). Archaeological testing (09E0525) 50-100m outside the monument to the N, E and S failed to produce any related material (Morahan 2012). The E-W feature may be a track leading to a causeway over the fosse at W. Ring-barrow (RO034-071----) is c. 40m to the SE.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 24 August 2010

References

Morahan, L. 2012 Runabackan: various. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2009: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 185-6, No. 713. Dublin. Wordwell.

Barton, K. 2009 Pre-planning archaeological impact assessment for the proposed development of a GAA centre at Runnabackan, Co. Roscommon. Landscape and Geophysical Services. Unpublished report, National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Consent no. 09R145.