Crannog

The National Monuments Service's description

In the shallow waters of Lough Talt, c. 150m from the NW shoreline. Views are restricted due to the mountainous terrain. A circular high-cairn crannog (18.4m N-S;18.1m E-W; H 2.3m above the lake-bed). A central plateau (4m N-S; 5m E-W) consists of subangular stones (diam. 0.2-0.3m) and some flagstones that are loosely packed and rest on a firmer surface of shattered and fire-cracked stones. A pile of boulders (L 1.45m E-W; Wth 0.4m; H 0.65m) on the E half of the plateau may be the remains of a wall. The edge of the plateau drops down to a berm (Wth 2-4m) to N, E and S. The W edge of the plateau slopes less and connects to a jetty (5.7m N-S; 11m E-W; H 0.38m above the water) consisting of small stones (diam. 0.05-0.1m) topped with some boulders. On the N side of the jetty is a submerged flagstone path (4.9m NW-SE; 1.7m E-W). The edge of the crannog is distinct and consists of stones, which overspill for 1-2m into the water. It is moderately overgrown with briars and the plateau has a thin cover of soil and grass. Wood-Martin (1892, 274-5) mentioned a wooden beam, a bone arrowhead, fragments of polished and worked bone as well as teeth and bones of oxen, sheep and horses from this crannog. A possible crannog (SL030-003002-) is c. 1.2km to SSE in the S end of Lough Talt.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005).

Date of upload: 18 January 2008