Barrow - ring-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

Surveyed in 2012 and described by McGuinness (2012, 30) as following: ‘High-relief ring-barrow in low-lying, undulating pastureland c. 60m SW of two tiny and sometimes conjoined, seasonally flooded lakes (kettle-holes?). Stony bank of old field-fence, running c. N-S, cuts through W side of monument, and approximately one-quarter of monument has been removed or severely damaged from field to W of this. Monument comprises a central flat-topped mound surrounded by a flat-bottomed or gently curved ditch, from 3-4.4m in width where intact, and an outer bank 3.5-4m in width where intact Bank has been partially eroded on F side and mostly leveled on N side; an entire arc to W of later field-fence, except for slight traces at SW, has been removed. Overall diameter of monument (NNW-SSEE) is 31m; the E-W diameter is only 22m on account of the damage done to W side. Basal diameter of central mound is 18.5m from N to S, but only 13m from E-W; it is clear that parts of W and NW sides of mound have been shorn off, possibly at same time as field-fence was constructed. Edge of upper surface of mound rises up to 1.25m above base of ditch (at SSE side), and highest point of mound rises up to 1.6m above base of ditch. Mound rises well above surrounding ground level and, on SE side, well above outer bank Where bank is best preserved on S and NE sides, it rises 0.58m and 0.68m respectively above base of ditch; its greatest height above external ground level is 0.75m at SE side, where ditch is actually higher than external ground level. Maximum depth of ditch below and perpendicular to a line joining top of bank to upper surface of platform on S and NE sides is 0.86m and 0.66m respectively. There appears to be a very low-relief, approximately circular mound (Diam. 4.2m N-S x 4.Sm E-W) on upper surface of central mound. A second barrow or mound (WM011-159----) lies 17m to SSE. Frewin Hill (WM011-133----), c. 0.7km to N, is prominent on horizon and the present site and Site 12 are aligned on the mound or cairn on its summit’.

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

Date of upload: 15 April 2016

References

McGuinness, D. 2012 The prehistoric burial mounds and related monument of County Westmeath. Part I - Preliminary account of the monuments in the Lough Owel Area (Barony of Corkaree and part of Barony of Moyashel & Magheradernon). Unpublished survey funded by Westmeath County Council in association with Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society.