Asss Manger — Manger

Situated in an upland area by the roadside. This site, a small stone-built structure incorporated in a road-side fence at the rim of an old quarry which has been infilled in recent years, is located on elevated arable land. It consists of a cover-slab, 2.50m by2.20m by 30cm thick, supported by a number of upright stones. Under this slab there is a cavity some 80cm deep, open to the NE. The slab has slipped from the tops of two stones at its NE end but still nests on an upright stone and dry-walling alongside at about its mid-line. Just E of the structure there was a line, some 2.50m long, of three upright stones(de Valera and O Nuallain 1972) only two of which are now visible. An early account (O Byrne, 1849-51) would suggest that this is the remnants of a larger and substantially buried structure and that it was surrounded by a circle of stones. Cists (LA025-052) containing bones were said to have been uncovered closeby. The whole may have been some form of burial monument but its nature is uncertain. (O Byrne 1849-51, 131; de Valera and O Nuallain 1972, 97-8). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007