Cairn — burial cairn in Gragan West

In an area built over by a farmyard near the top of Corkscrew Hill, with views over Ballyvaughan Bay to N and within multiperiod field system (CL005-115001-). Listed as 'Burial mound' in the RMP (1996). A mound (diam. 22.5m; H 1m) was noted at this location during scrub clearance in the 1980s. The western half was levelled during subsequent development. During that work a Bronze Age stone-axe mould, a stone mortar, iron pick, a spindle whorl, tracked stones, iron slag and animal bone were recovered and reported to the National Museum (Cotter 1989). Subsequent archaeological excavations (ibid.) revealed a rectangular cist-like feature (1.1m E-W; 0.6m N-S) set into the mound. Its E end was open and shattered flags formed a floor at its W end. The mound itself was shown to comprise weathered scree and dark brown silty clay. A decorated sherd of Early Bronze Age pottery, a bone toggle, an early medieval spearhead, glass and amber beads, stone gaming pieces, a small bronze ring, spindle whorls, a loom weight, hones, a strike-a-light, a quartz toggle and a key for a barrel-padlock were retrieved from the disturbed portions of the mound, its upper 0.4m and area surrounding it. Isolated pockets of archaeological deposits were also disturbed c. 35m N of the mound (CL005-115002-). Slag, animal bone and flecks of burnt clay were observed and a stone dagger/knife, a bronze object with raised mid-rib (possible dagger) were recovered (ibid.). Reference: Cotter, C. 1989. 1988:04 - Gragan West, Clare. In I. Bennet (eds) Excavations 1988. Wordwell: Bray. Available online @ https://excavations.ie/report/1988/Clare/0000769/ Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: February 2023