Barrow - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

Monument surveyed in 2015 and described by McGuinness (2015, 52) as following: ‘This monument, densely overgrown with thorn trees, furze and brambles, comprises a steep-sided, bowl-shaped mound (Diam. 8.5m N-S x 9.3m E-W) surrounded by a circular ditch (Diam. (overall) 14.4m N-S). Mound is mostly well preserved, although part of it appears to have been removed at S—apparently the same feature described in the ASI account as ‘a depression in the top of the mound which continues down the side on the SE, due to disturbance’ [SMR file]; possibly the site has been ransacked by treasure hunters. Where its edge is damaged on E side and the sod removed, mound can be seen to be composed of earth with some stone. Height of mound above well-preserved ditch on S side is 1.5m, but reaches 1.75m over line of filled-in ditch on E side. Where best preserved at NW and S, width of ditch is 1.8m and 3.2m respectively; the corresponding depths below ground level at these points are 0.14m and 0.60m. Although shallow and narrow on N and W sides, and not visible at all on E where it was presumably filled in when adjacent NNW-SSE-running field fence was constructed, ditch is both broad and deep on S side, at least in part due to the barrow’s location on land falling appreciably from S to N. There is no clear evidence of a bank having enclosed the ditch; possible traces of one at S are likely attributable to the natural ground rising in this direction, although the ASI account does refer to a ‘faint bank outside the fosse [which] seems to have been redug in the past’ [SMR file]. Barrow is situated in pastureland close to road. Although visibility is poor in its relatively low-lying location, with land rising immediately to S and SW, the best views are to N and W, with the striking Ben of Fore only c. 3.5km to NW’.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David McGuinness.

Date of upload: 8 February 2016

References

McGuinness, D. 2015 The prehistoric burial mounds and related monument of County Westmeath. Part III - Monuments in Northern and Eastern Westmeath (Baronies of Delvin and Fore, and Parts of Baronies of Farbill, Fartullagh, Moygoish, and Moyashel & Magheradernon). Unpublished survey funded by Westmeath County Council in association with Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society.