Barrow — ditch barrow in Shanaclogh (pubblebrien By.)

In level pasture on slight SE facing slope with moderate views in all directions. Identified by Margaret Gowen in 1986 as Site 2/38/3 during archaeological monitoring of topsoil stripping associated with the Irish Gas pipeline (Gowen 1988, 68-72). The results of her excavations were summarised as follows; ‘Several well-defined cremation pits were noted on this site after removal of topsoil. An area 8m x 6.50m cleared for excavation revealed an enclosing ring-ditch. The ring-ditch was horseshoe-shaped in plan and enclosed an area 5.80m x 4.20m. The opening at the west was 3m wide where the ditch ended in two rounded, west-facing terminals. Three deposits of fill were noted in all five cuttings opened across it. The uppermost contained some large stones, concentrations of cremated bone and at one point a fragment, roughly one quarter, of a pot. There were no other artefacts found on the site. The ditch appeared to have been truncated on the west and south, having a maximum width of 1.30m, and was 30-50cm deep. Six cremation pits were placed roughly in the centre of the enclosed area. The largest measured 80cm x 90cm x 29cm, four were roughly 30cm in diameter and 23-30cm deep, and the sixth was just 20-24cm in diameter. Not all the pits contained significant quantities of cremated bone and one which appeared to have none at all during excavation may be a post hole, Where it was possible to identify the mains, all the bones were human and appeared to be those of single individuals’ (www.excavations.ie 1986, Site No. 58). No surface remains visible when visited by the ASI in 2000. Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick Date of upload: 4 August 2020