Barrow

On a S-facing slope. Archaeological excavation (E3270) during 2007 at Ardagawna 1 as part of the Athlone to Ballinasloe M6 road development revealed half of a small ring-ditch (int. diam. 4m; ext. diam. 5.35m NE-SW). The fosse (Wth c. 1m; D 0.4m) was round-bottomed and contained fragments of cremated human bone and a perforated stone. The fill of the fosse produced a C14 date of 1498-1466 cal. BC, and a C14 date from a tree-bole c. 22m to the N provided a C14 date of 1493-1429 cal. BC, suggesting that tree-clearance was connected with the barrow. The structure (RO052-031004-), c. 22m to the NNW, may be contemporary, but the ring-ditch is unassociated with the corn-drying kiln (RO052-031002-) c. 10m to the NW, the burial (RO052-031003-), and the three pits (RO052-031004-), c. 50m to the N and NE. Part of the ditch barrow survives outside the road at S. (Ó Séaghdha 2010a; 2010d, 8-9) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010 Amended: 25 November, 2013

A Neolithic ring-ditch barrow, dating to the Early to Middle Neolithic period (c. 3700–3000 BCE), representing a form of early ceremonial or funerary monument significant for understanding burial practices and social organization in prehistoric Ireland.