What is recorded here

Indicated is a small oblong field in County Mayo, Ireland, formed when a dividing wall was removed from two conjoined subcircular fields. It is not a buried monument or unusual earthwork, but an ordinary enclosure within a wider system of linear field walls. The true strangeness is that an unknown possible site was once marked there, lost beneath agriculture and memory, leaving only a field behind.

A ‘possible archaeological site’ was marked at this location on a Forest Service map, and was reportedly destroyed by agriculture (SMR file). There were no details on the nature of the possible monument. Two small conjoined subcircular fields are indicated on the 1916 6-inch at the location. They are extant, except that the dividing wall between the two has been removed to create a single subrectangular or oblong field (19-20m NE−SW; c. 12m NW−SE), enclosed by relatively narrow, roughly constructed drystone walls (Wth 1m; H 1.1m). The interior is not raised relative to exterior ground level. The remains appear to be simply a small field enclosure contemporary with the surrounding system of 19th linear field walls. It is largely obscured by thickets of blackthorn and brambles. An old trackway borders the SE side. There is no visible evidence of an archaeological monument at this location. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 15 November 2022

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.