Cairn

In the centre of a burial ground (SL020-166002-) which is located in the interior of the inland promontory fort (SL020-166001-). The easternmost of two cairns (see SL020-166009-) discovered and partially excavated during excavation of the complex in 1994 (Mount 1995d, 78-9; 2002, 103-116). A roughly circular cairn (4.5m E-W; 4.2m N-S; max. H 0.54m) situated on the old ground surface, directly under the sod layer, consisting of limestone boulders and flat slabs in a matrix of dark brown humus. A substantial quantity of stone immediately to the E of the cairn may have been tumble from it thus reducing the height of the cairn somewhat. Cremated human bone and charcoal flecks were found on the surface of the cairn directly under the sod but the bulk of it was recovered from a small depression formed by a number of stones. This cremation has been dated to 680 to 880 cal. AD (Mount 2002, 114). Finds included chert, flint, iron nails and a decorated gold and amber disc. In contrast to the surrounding burial ground, no inhumation burials were found in the old ground surface beneath the cairn which 'probably indicates that this feature pre-dates the inhumations' (ibid., 107). The E and W cairns were linked by a 6m long arrangement of angular stones on the northern side, possibly a wall footing, which continued to the E as a collapsed wall partly enclosing the eastern cairn. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 1/1995).