What is recorded here

Barrow is a lost burial mound in County Louth where hundreds of inverted urns held human bones and charcoal. In 1841, men digging soil for a quarry exposed the urns, but the landowner destroyed most of them before anyone could study them properly. The cruelty of that loss still shadows the place, turning a ordinary field into a wound where forgotten people were kept beneath the clay.

The following description is derived from both the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986) and the 'Archaeological Survey of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1991). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007 'Rath or tumulus originally enclosed by a breastwork of earth of inconsiderable elevation' (PRIA (C) 1840-5, 259-61). Removal of soil from the brow of the hill in 1841 to fill a quarry-hole led to the discovery of between 150-200 inverted urns containing bones and charcoal. These were destroyed by the landowner, but subsequent 'excavation' of an untouched area by J.H. Smith revealed several more urns and a few artifacts (JRSAI 1967, 42) (see also LH024-002002-). The site appears to have covered about 5 or 6 acres, and the urns, which were embedded in the natural clay, were at a depth of 1m, which suggests a mound of some description covering at least part of the area.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.