Cairn - burial cairn

The National Monuments Service's description

Identified in centre-line testing (E4110) in advance of the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy road scheme and set aside for resolution as a part of Ballydawmore 5 (Hardy et al. 2010, 82-3). It is situated on a slight rise in an undulating landscape with the headwaters of a small SE-NW stream c. 50m to the N. Full excavation (E4171) by L. Barker of an extensive area recorded two main phases – Neolithic and medieval, with a structure (WX020-109002-) and a burial cairn in the earlier phase, and an enclosure (WXX020-109003-) in the later.
Beneath the cairn was a pit lined with stones, leaving a chamber (dims 1.5m NNW-SSE; 1m ENE-WSW; D 0.7m). This may have been partly lined with wood as two slot-trenches were recorded at the shorter ends. It might also have been roofed in wood as no roof-stone was recovered. The only content of the cist was a flint point (L 8.5cm) but flint debitage was found in the vicinity. The cist was covered by a small cairn (diam. c. 4m), but only the base survived. A possible cremation pit had been inserted into the remnants of the cairn. A cluster of post and stake-holes c. 5m to the W (WX020-109002-) represents contemporary activity and the cairn is within the N interior of the medieval rectangular enclosure (WX020-109003-). The pits (WX020-108----) are c. 150m to the NNW. (Ruttle and Rajic 2012; Barker 2013)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 28 November, 2013

References

Hardy, C., Nugent, L., Homan Reid, R; O'Liathain, N; Whitty, Y.; and Coleman, C. 2010 N11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme. Archaeological Consultancy Services, Stage (1)a. E4110. Testing report for Wexford County Council. Unpublished. TVAS (Ireland).

Barker, L. 2013 Ballydawmore 5. Prehistoric cist cairn and cremation; medieval enclosure. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2010: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 220-2, No. 697. Dublin, Wordwell.

Ruttle, E. and Rajic, M. 2012 M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme, Co. Wexford. E4171, Ballydawmore 5. Stage (III) Post-excavation Assessment Report for Wexford County Council. Unpublished report, TVAS (Ireland).