What is recorded here

Indicated is a trapezoidal earthen platform in County Mayo, Ireland, where yellow flag iris still marks the northern edge of its old water channel. The site has watched southern horizons for centuries while field drains and pasture blurred its lines, yet the bank and ditch remain distinct enough to suggest a deliberate enclosure rather than a random heap of soil. Its shape changed on later drawings, but the land kept its own memory: a raised room set slightly apart from the surrounding fields, waiting to be read by someone willing to look closely.

In rough, rush-grown pasture, located on a slight S-facing slope. There are very good views to S and good views E and W; views to N are restricted by rising ground, and by field fences and trees. This possible moated site is shown as a circular embanked enclosure on 1838 OS 6-inch map; as trapezoidal on the 25-inch plan and as subrectangular on the 1919 OS 6-inch. Roughly trapezoidal earthen platform (28.5m N−S; c. 20m E−W at N, 25m at S) defined by a bank/scarp (H 1m at N; Wth 3.5m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 1m at S) which retains a slightly raised internal rim, and enclosed by an external fosse. At N the fosse is evident as a band (Wth 2m) of rushes and yellow flag iris; on the SE, S and W sides the fosse (W 2m at S, 2.5-3m at W; D 0.3) is evident as a rush-grown depression which merges with later field drains –it is difficult to determine to what extent its current appearance is original or results from cutting/recutting of field drains. There are traces of ridge and furrow on a N-S axis in the level interior. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 17 June 2020

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