Crannog

The National Monuments Service's description

In Lough Bo, c. 60m from the stony E shore. A roughly circular low-cairn crannog (20.75m N-S; 22.4m E-W; H 1.2m above the muddy lake-bed) consisting of a partially submerged plateau of small shattered stones (diam. c. 0.05m) with patches of sand in between them and a mix of dark brown mud and sand. The plateau has an even surface and slopes gradually down towards the edges where shattered stones are mixed with muddy marl. In the centre of the plateau, and rising above the water level, is a small oval loosely packed collection of stones, mainly sandstone. Some of the stones are flagstones but there are also subangular and rounded stones (dims. c. 0.45m x 0.4m). On the edge of the plateau at S is a U-shaped indentation in which is exposed an irregular double row of wooden posts leading out into the water. Horizontal timbers can also be seen under the stony surface material of the crannog. There is also a stony ridge (L 14m) leading from the centre of the oval stony area out into the water in a SE direction, possibly the remains of a jetty. The edges of the crannog slope gently under the water towards the W and open water, while there is a more abrupt edge at the E towards the shore.

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