Barrow - ring-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

Surveyed in 2013 and described by McGuinness (2014, 54) as following: 'Small circular enclosure (Diam. 18.8m N-S x 18.3m E-W) with flat central area (Diam. 10.4m N-S x 11m E-W) defined by bank and external ditch. Ground slopes down fairly steeply to W and all elements of the monument follow this slope. Bank is up to 1.9m in width and rises up to 0.7m above ditch; on E side, where two small boulders appear to be the remains of an internal revetment to the bank, it rises 0.5m above interior. Ditch is up to 2.2m in width. On NW side of monument there appears to be a counterscarp bank, indicated by a curving line of partly grassed-over boulders; this does not continue around the monument and has not been included in the diameter measurements given above. Monument is located in lush pastureland near the edge of Mount Dalton demesne and has three mature deciduous trees on its perimeter, presumably planted along with many others in this planned demesne. With its internal, stone-revetted bank, external ditch and possible counterscarp bank, monument has the appearance of a ringfort, although its small size—well below the norm of 25-30m for a ringfort; its steeply sloping interior; the lack of any obvious entrance; and the presence of planted trees on its perimeter, might also indicate that it represents a landscape feature designed for the demesne. Either way, it is only tentatively accepted as a barrow here, despite the presence of a genuine ring-barrow (WM017-103----) in the demesne c. 400m to SW'.

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

Date of upload: 23 February 2015

References

McGuinness, D. 2014 The prehistoric burial mounds and related monuments of County Westmeath. Part II - Monuments in central Westmeath (Barony of Rathconrath and parts of baronies of Moygoish, Moycashel, and Moyashel & Magheradernon). Unpublished survey funded by Westmeath County Council in association with Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society.