Ratheen

In pasture, at the junction of two field walls, located on a low rise in an area of rolling grassland bordered 200m to N by the Deel River. Immediately to NW is a large swallow hole (c. 50m N–S; c. 20m E–W), several meters deep, which is named ‘Polldotia’ on the 1922 OS 6-inch map. Nephin Mountain is prominently visible to SSW and the Nephin Beg Range extends along the skyline to W. This possible barrow is named ‘Ratheen’ on the 1922 OS 6-inch maps. It consists of a circular mound or cairn (9m E–W; 9.5m N–S; H 1.1m at E, 1.4m at W) of earth and stone. The mound is largely sod-covered and obscured by hawthorn, brambles, and on the S and W sides by a jumble of loose field clearance stones. There is another possible barrow (MA038-146----) c. 35m to N, and a cluster of ringbarrows and possible barrows and cairns (MA038-051----; MA038-052----; MA038-053001- to MA038-053003-; MA038-146----) are located in adjacent fields within a range of c. 100-250m to NE, SE and S. There is a possible ringcairn (MA038-054----) c. 400m to S. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 29 July 2019