Barrow — pond barrow in Caiseal Charna

Situated in a wet hollow area of marshy land in upland region with higher ground to E. Large circular area (approx. diam. 35m) enclosed by a heather covered drystone wall (H 0.7m; T 0.7m) with low roughly rectangular shaped flat-topped drystone cairn (DG096-031001-) or leacht type feature located in the centre of the waterlogged interior. Local tradition asserts that this was the burial site of warriors killed in an ancient battle (pers. comm. S O'Beirne). The interior of this enclosure is very unusual in that it is very wet and marshy. The presence of so much sphagnum, which sinks down quite considerably as one walks over the surface, suggest that the original surface of the interior was much lower than the present level. It is possible that the interior of this site was slighly hollow or concave and that the field drains taking water from the mountain slope directly behind the monument have since blocked up causing the interior of this monument to become waterlogged in more recent times. There is evidence of an inner bank of earth and stone visible in the E quadrant of the interior, this feature does not fully enclose the interior. From higher ground the presence of the low cairn or leacht in the centre, the waterlogged interior, the hollow amphitheatre like location and the double enclosing feature and the possibility that the interior was once hollow or slightly concave gives the monument the appearance of a burial monument such as a possible pond barrow or some other form of unknown ritual type monument. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: : 19 July 2010