Barrow - ring-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

Possible ring-barrow described in 1981 as following; 'About 35m to the south of the bowl barrow (WM018-133----) and near the southern edge of the ridge is a low ring-barrow, consisting of a low flat central platform surrounded by a shallow fosse with a low bank outside. This barrow is sub-circular in outline and measures approx. 20m NW-SE by approx. 16m NE-SW. Small areas at the edge of the ridge at NE and SW have been quarried away' (SMR File).

Surveyed in 2013 and described by McGuinness (2014, 64) as following: 'Very low relief, roughly circular earthworks 38m from a mound-barrow (WM018-133---) on SW summit of a striking and anciently embanked glacial landform, itself rising dramatically from a hilltop, appear to indicate the presence of one or two barrows. The northernmost example, which would be the smaller of the two (Diam. c. 5.5m), comprises a bank surrounding a hollowed area, as in a pond-barrow. The southern one is similar (Diam. c. 12.5m NE-SW) but with a possible low mound at the centre. In the absence of other visible evidence, other readings of these features are possible. It is worth noting that two separate ASI fieldworkers, who examined the site in 1980 and 1981, saw only a single oval barrow at this location, measuring c. 20m NW-SE x c. 16m NE-SW. The first account is given here: This is a small oval area outlined by the remains of a shallow and narrow fosse with a low outer bank of earth. The bank is rather poorly preserved but is visible from W-NNW & from NNE-E-S & from SE-E-W. It is situated on the top of the natural slope. The fosse is shallow & rather poorly preserved but is discernible all round. The interior is not raised above the ground outside & appears somewhat defaced. This appears to be a poorly preserved ring-barrow [SMR file]. The present writer examined the Tuitestown complex of earthworks on a single visit before having read these ASI accounts. As with other low visibility earthworks, further visits may force him to revise his interpretation'.

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 Unpublished survey funded by Westmeath County Council in association with Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society.