Barrow - ring-barrow

The National Monuments Service's description

Monument surveyed in 2015 and described by McGuinness (2015, 66-7) as following: ‘Rectangular or partly sub-rectangular earthen embanked enclosure with external ditch and raised interior containing what appears to be a denuded ring-barrow at its N end. Dimensions of enclosure are 30.3m N-S x 25.4m E-W from outer edges of ditch; 27.2m NS x 21.7m EW from outer edges of bank; and 17.3m N-S x 16.2m E-W for the interior. There are clear traces of a counterscarp bank just outside ditch at NE and S, and slighter traces of one at NW, which would increase overall dimensions for enclosure. Main enclosure bank rises up to 0.5m above interior at S side, where it rises 1.05m above the ditch and 0.90m above the counterscarp bank. Overall width of flat-topped inner bank is 3.4m at E side, its upper surface 0.80m across. Width of bank at S side is 1.7m, where width of ditch is 1.5m. Part of outer face of inner enclosing bank has been poached, especially on S side. Long axis of enclosure runs roughly N-S (NNW-SSE), with corners being sharpest at NW and SW, and more rounded at NE and especially SE. Interior of enclosure is raised up to 0.50m above external ground level at NE corner but is higher than ground level on all sides. Slippage from the inner bank and raised interior has occurred in various places, most notably midway along W side, although the ASI account of 13/4/70 suggests that this might be the original entrance [SMR file]. At N side of interior of enclosure are remains of what appears to be a greatly damaged ring-barrow (Diam. 10.5m E-W), comprising a ransacked central mound (Diam. 6.5m E-W) surrounded by a roughly circular ditch and an outer bank which is best preserved at E but almost obliterated on S side. Mound rises 0.23m above ditch on E side, where bank rises 0.19m above ditch. It is possible that this is not a ring-barrow, not least in view of its unusual location within a rectangular enclosure; the ASI account of 26/7/72 queried its identification as a ring-barrow, while that of 13/4/70 had described it as ‘two slight banks forming concentric arcs with the open sides on the S.’, suggesting that ‘These could represent a two-period house site. The inner structure [i.e. the hollowed mound of the ‘ring-barrow’] having been built inside the outer’. Given its hilltop location amidst the important Killucan group of barrows, and that some other enclosed ring-barrows are known from Ireland, this writer is much more inclined to opt for identification as a ring-barrow. Monument is located on prominent hilltop close to mobile phone mast; visibility would be excellent all round but for trees. Barrow forms part of a loosely knit cemetery on and around the elevated ground W of Killucan, including two in Rathwire Upper townland (WM020-124----; WM020-123----) within 1.3km to S, and a tight cluster of four or five others in Rathnarrow townland within 1.2km to S’.

See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI

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

Date of upload: 10 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.