Barrow - mound barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

Monument surveyed in 2015 and described by McGuinness (2015, 45) as following: ‘Low, roughly circular domed mound (Diam. 14.4m N-S x 16.4m E-W), rising up to 1.16m where highest on N side. Mound is heavily eroded and appears to have been extensively dug into by treasure-hunters in the past, as with the nearby site No. 11, displacing much mound material and exposing some possible cairn stones at the centre. Standing on top of the mound is a c. 2m-high iron cross with the letters AMDG on its base, erected c. mid 20th century by Fr Walsh in thanksgiving for delivery of local livestock from Black Leg. Monument is very prominently located on the highest point of a ridge or spur running ESE-WNW, forming N side of the Drumhurlin River valley, which levels out to E before rising up to another peak, but drops down quite steeply to W where there is another mound-barrow (WM013-112----) lower down 200m to W, beyond which the land falls again to W. The ridge drops very steeply a short distance to N and S of the present barrow; there is what appears to be a small-scale linear quarry on S side, on upper slope of ridge. Visibility is superb except to E, with a mound- or bowl-barrow (WM013-016----) visible 1.5km to SW on S side of the Drumhurlin River Valley; a second, unclassified-barrow (WM013-020----) across the valley 1.2km to S would be visible but for trees'.

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

Date of upload: 6 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 Unpublished survey funded by Westmeath County Council in association with Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society.