Crannog

The National Monuments Service's description

Now located in a modern coniferous plantation which is visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph with shoreline of Bishops Lough c. 65m to W. Ringfort (WM007-100----) 280m to SW. This crannóg was described by O'Sullivan (2004, 51-2) as following; 'Located at SE end of the Bishop’s Lough, about 200m from original shoreline to SW. This was originally a much larger lake in a narrow drumlin valley at SE end of Lough Derravaragh. A large, oval platform (dims. 80m NE-SW x 60m WSW-ESE; H 2.5m) situated today on marshy ground, but it would originally have been in the middle of the lake. It is flat-topped, irregular and has a possible small boulder (1m x 1m) kerb around its perimeter, with smaller stones packed in around them. The mound is also made up of these small stones. There are at least 4 wooden piles at the NW side. The site appears to be a modified natural island, refurbished and used as a crannóg. There are also 2 smaller mounds nearby with possible stone kerbing. This is possibly an enhanced island platform, rather than a classic crannóg'.

The site was surveyed by Caitríona Moore and Maggie Kobik on 21/10/2022 and 07/12/2022. A significant result of this survey has been to correct the mapped location of the crannog which lies some 18m west of the location indicated on the Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) Historic Environment Viewer. Monument described by Moore (2023, 6) as follows; 'The basic topography of the site has not changed and it remains an approximately oval mound as described above. Its western edge lies immediately on the edge of the lake and is covered with natural scrub including rushes, reeds and small to medium sized trees of alder, birch and willow. The top is slightly domed. The western and southern edges of the crannóg were difficult to access due to the aforementioned scrub, but occasional large boulders were apparent on both. These may be the possible kerbing noted above. On the western and southern edges, the break of slope at the top of the mound appears to be quite steep. On the northern and eastern edges the break of slope at the top is well-defined and also steep. Along the eastern edge the slope is stepped. The base of the slope on the eastern edge is defined / truncated by a drain which curves around towards the north, also defining the northern edge. Three drains 600–700mm wide and spaced approximately 7m apart run NNE-SSW across the top of the mound. Occasional scatters of stones occur randomly across the top of the mound, with some larger pieces lying on the ground to the east. None of these appear to be worked or modified in any way. A deep blanket of moss and pine needles lies over the surface of the mound, and where visible in drain sections the underlying soil is dark brown humic peat. The wooden piles and small outlying mounds noted by O’Sullivan were not visible at the time of the site inspection'.

See attached site location map and photographs provided courtesy of Caitríona Moore

References:
Moore, C. 2023 Further Information Report Derrynagarragh, Co. Westmeath TFL 00400919. Archaeology and Built Heritage Ltd.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Aidan O'Sullivan.

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Caitríona Moore MA PGDip, Archaeology and Built Heritage Ltd.

Date of revised upload: 6 March 2023

References

O'Sullivan, A. 2004 The social and ideological roles of crannogs in early medieval Ireland. Unpublished PhD thesis. Department of History, NUI Maynooth.