Barrow - mound barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

Monument surveyed in 2015 and described by McGuinness (2015, 37) as following: ‘Although difficult to examine because of extensive gorse bushes, other vegetation and a polygonal wooden fence clinging tightly to its base, this appears to be a tall, steep-sided mound (Diam. 18m NE-SW), almost conical with truncated top, rising to a height of 2.44m where this can be measured on NE side; the ASI, whose fieldworkers had better access to the site, give a height of 3-3.5m [SMR file]. Upper surface is difficult to examine but appears irregular and disturbed; a hollow in its SW side (3m x 2.8m) may be due to treasure-hunters, and a limestone flag (1.36m x 0.87m) at SW end of hollow, which rocks when pressure is applied and is hollow underneath, might possibly be part of a cist, presumably displaced by digging as was taken to be the case by an ASI fieldworker on 24/5/83, who noted this and a few other stones close by [SMR file]. Though barely visible now due to vegetation, the ASI also noted that ‘the sides have been dug into in several places notably on SW, NE and SE’ [SMR file]. Although identified as a bowl-barrow in the SMR file, there is no ditch surrounding this monument and it is best taken as a tumulus or mound-barrow. This large, prominent barrow is located on a very low rise in flattish pasture, with best visibility to N.
No monument depicted on 1775 estate map which depicts field in which monument is located as ‘Moat Division’ (NLI, ) the barrow appears to be monument which gives it to the 'Moat' on estate map 21 F 80 (30).

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

Date of upload: 5 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 Unpublished survey funded by Westmeath County Council in association with Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society.