Crannog

The National Monuments Service's description

Attached to the summer shoreline, in a small lagoon in the NW corner of Lough Gara. A kidney-shaped low-cairn crannog (14m N-S; 14m E-W; H 1.02m above the muddy lake-bed) the surface of which consists of shattered angular stones (diam. 0.03-0.05m) with some larger subangular stones (diam. 0.3-0.4m). The crannog is high in the centre, sloping gradually down towards the edges. Along the water's edge S-SW are c. 13 horizontal roundwood posts. Large horizontal timbers (L 3m; Wth 0.25m) are also evident in the water to E as well as a number of quite substantial flagstones placed on a layer of scattered stones. The crannog edge is distinct in material but not in shape. A few sally trees grow on it. This crannog has been radiocarbon dated to the early medieval period and artifacts associated with it support that date (Fredengren 2002, KILF 005). (Cross 1953, fig. 1).

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