Burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

On a NW-facing slope of rising pasture with good views from S through W to N with Slieveardagh Hills to W. Depicted as 'Old Graveyard' on the 1st (1840) ed. OS 6-inch map, it consists of a roughly circular-shaped enclosure (int. diam. 64m E-W; 70m NW-SE) defined by an earth and stone bank (top Wth. 2.3-3m; base Wth 5m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 1-1.5m) and outer fosse (base Wth 1.2m; top Wth 3m; ext. D 0.5-0.9m). The bank and external fosse are visible from N through E to S, elsewhere the bank has been reduced to a scarp and the fosse has been filled in. There is a large quarry immediately SE of the burial ground and several old quarry holes immediately to the W. The remains of two old field walls, 6m apart, run across the enclosure from NE to SW bisecting the interior. The wall-footings of one of the field walls (wall T 0.7m) is clearly visible running across the centre of the monument while the other boundary is grass covered and not as clearly defined. Running off this early field wall is a low scarp which defines a rectangular platform (dims. 31m E-W; 20m N-S) in the NE quadrant of the enclosure. Inside this platform there are several low stones protruding above the surface with one large stone which appears to be sitting on several smaller pad stones. This area of the enclosure may have been used as a burial ground. This monument may pre-date its use as a burial ground.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011