Passage tomb in Kilmonaster Middle

These monuments stood c. 120m W of Site A. Both have been removed. They are shown on the OS 6-inch map of 1845-7, where collectively with Site A they are named 'Giant's Graves'. Site B is shown as a circle of dots, suggesting a kerb with a diameter a little over 20m within which a small group of dots seems to represent a chamber. On the pre-publication field map the kerb-like feature is named 'Druidic Circle', and the group of dots in the interior is named 'Cromlech'. Site C is shown as a small group of dots, perhaps representing a chamber, on the published map of 1845-7 and is named 'Cromlech' on the pre-publication field map. As shown on the OS 6-inch map, it stood c. 10m NW of Site B, but according to Thomas Fagan (1845-8) these sites stood c. 30 yards (c. 27.5m) apart. Fagan recorded that both were built with stones measuring 2 feet (c. 0.6m) to 31/2 feet (c. 1.05m) high. He noted that one of these graves - he did not specify which - was 11 feet (c. 3.3m) long by 41/2 feet (c. 1.4m) wide and the other 6 feet (c. 1.8m) long by 41/2 feet (c. 1.4m) wide; both, he claimed, were originally larger. It appears that Site B, apparently a megalithic tomb in a circular, possibly kerbed cairn, was probably a passage tomb, and Site C, in view of its proximity, may also have been one. Fagan 1845-8, book 10, 31; Ó Nualláin 1968b, 8-9; Herity 1974, 214, Dg. 2 and Dg. 3; Ó Nualláin 1983a, 36, nos. 76-7; Ó Nualláin 1989, 127; RMP 1995, 70:63. The above description was published in the 'Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume VI, County Donegal.' Compiled by: Eamon Cody (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). Date of upload: 22 September 2008 No archaeological significance NGR 22734 39764 Excavation Licence No. 05E0801 Pre-development testing was carried out on 18 July 2005 at a site in advance of its development at Kilmonaster Middle townland, Ballindrait, Co. Donegal. The proposed development, which consisted of the construction of a silage pit, dung pit, effluent containment tank and dry-bed cattle shed, was located within the constraint area for an archaeological complex, the Kilmonaster Passage Tomb cemetery. The nearest monument of the complex, a passage tomb, was 5m from the proposed containment tank. The cattle shed was 24m from the same monument. As the groundworks involved in the construction of the cattle shed consisted of four pits (1m by 1m by 1m deep) located along one side of the proposed structure, it was decided to concentrate the test-trenches at the proposed containment tank location. Three trenches were excavated, which measured 16.3m, 33m and 36.3m long, 0.9-1.3m wide and 0.1-1m deep. Below the topsoil were fill, grey/brown friable silt loam, orange/brown loose loamy sand and bedrock. A number of modern pottery sherds and one worked piece of flint were found in the topsoil. The fill consisted of soil and rocks and was located along the line of a field boundary. The friable silt loam contained a small number of animal bone fragments (from a calf) at c. 0.3m below the surface. The loamy sand was sterile. The landowner had informed me prior to the testing that livestock had been buried along this field boundary in years gone by, so the finding of bone was not a surprise. The stray find of worked flint in the topsoil was also not surprising, considering the proximity of the passage tomb (Excavations Bulletin 2005). Richard Crumlish, 4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.