Barrow in Archerstown

Monument surveyed in 2015 and described by McGuinness (2015, 35) as following: ‘Low domed mound (Diam. 9.0m N-S x 8.3m E-W) with flattish summit, reaching a height of 0.8m at SE where highest over external ground level, with traces of a ditch and external bank on S and possibly SW sides. From the ASI account of 13/4/73, the bank and ditch appear to have been in far better condition forty years ago: This consists of a wide deep V-shaped circular fosse with a substantial bank of earth outside it. Inside the fosse is a circular almost flat-topped steep mound like feature. The site is so densely overgrown that it is difficult to judge whether or not some of the fosse material was thrown on to it. At present the almost flat top of the area inside the fosse would suggest that is it in fact a ring-barrow. [SMR file] Elsewhere its overall diameter is given as 22.5m [SMR file]. Although earthen in appearance, probing indicates that the mound contains much stone. Poaching has removed parts of edge of mound at N, W and SW, but a slight depression in its upper surface might indicate ransacking by treasure hunters, if not a collapsed cist. Probable ditch at S side of mound is 1.7m in width; bank beyond this is 1.5m in width and rises 0.26m above the ditch. On historic OS 25” map, ditch is shown as complete, and an external bank is depicted for NW quadrant. There is a sub-rectangular, tongue-like projection at E side of mound, 2.5m in length, 2.3m in width and up to 0.2m in height; there appears to be a corresponding projection at W side, 2.8m in length, 2.7m in width and 0.4m in height. It is unclear whether these are original features. This monument, which has had a preservation order since 1977 but is currently in very poor condition, is prominently positioned on a low glacial hill (kame) with good visibility to N and E, one of several in this undulating landscape of glacial drift, now under pasture, and is surrounded by a ring of pine trees planted not long before 1973 [SMR file]. About 750m to NW is a graveyard (WM018-045001-) with ruined medieval church (WM018-045----), which Leo Swan (1988, 11) identified as an early medieval ecclesiastical site on the grounds that the shape of the graveyard indicated the former presence of a diagnostic curvilinear enclosure (WM018-045002-) or vallum surrounding the site’.