Barrow — mound barrow in Quignalecka

In a housing estate on the outskirts of Ballina town. Originally situated on a low knoll, providing good views of the surrounding undulating landscape, with the Ox Mountains defining the far horizon to the SE, and Nephin Mountain prominently visible to SW. The confluence of the River Moy with its tributary the Brusna River is located 700m to SW. In 2007 this mound barrow was archaeologically tested in advance of a housing development (Fitzpatrick and Rooney 2007; 070E0627), and it was subsequently fully excavated (Wallace 2018; 070E0627 extension). Following the excavation, the knoll on which the barrow was sited was completely removed. Prior to excavation, the barrow consisted of a circular earthen mound (diam. 12m E-W; 13.8m N-S; H c. 1mm) defined by a scarp. The scarp (H 0.8m at E; 0.7m at W) was lower, and broadly slumped on the N half, but was significantly steeper (H c. 1.7m) at S where it was enhanced by the natural fall of ground. The top of the mound (diam. 9m E-W; 10.8m N-S) was relatively flat, but an almost seamless break of slope with the scarp gave it a gently domed profile when viewed from a distance. An ash tree and a whitethorn tree were growing on the eastern side of the mound, and their root systems disturbed the stratigraphy of the mound. Excavation revealed that a fosse (Wth 0.40-0.50m; D 0.30-0.40m) curved around the mound at NW−E; it could not be traced on the steeply sloping S side, where there was much scree and mudstone bedrock. It was difficult to investigate and record as it had been partly truncated by works associated with the housing development. Beneath the topsoil, the mound was covered by a layer (D 0.3-0.4m) of mid-brown silty clay, incorporating a high concentration of medium-large stones, and an array of artefacts (pottery, iron nails, a clay pipe stem and lumps of mortar) dating to the modern era. Beneath this, there was a distinctive layer (0.10-0.40m) of yellow-orange, fine sand, which spread over the top of the platform, and in parts extended into the fosse. A large, flat slab was centrally located within this layer. The surface of the slab was covered by a lens of charcoal and ashy material, and surrounding the slab were several patches of charcoal and scorching, as well as heat-shattered granite rocks. The slab rested on a layer (D 0.15m) of loosely compacted, grey-brown silt, underneath which was a subcircular pit (diam. c. 1.2m; D 0.50m), with uneven sides, roughly lined with stones. A piece of worked flint and tiny fragments of burnt bone were recovered from the pit fill. Intense scorching around the pit suggested that this was the location of a cremation pyre; a small channel on the NW side of the pit may have been where a bellows was used to increase temperatures. Three other roughly circular pits were found beneath the yellow sandy layer on the S side of the mound, one of which contained fragments of pottery. The pottery was identified as a rim and neck sherd of a slightly open, shouldered or carinated bowl of the Western Neolithic Tradition, belonging to an early stage within the tradition, with a date centred on 3700 BC thought likely (Dr. A. L. Brindley, in Wallace 2018, Appendix 2). The finds assemblage also includes a flint scarper and a fragment of worked flint, which were recovered during the initial test excavation (Fitzpatrick and Rooney 2007, 17 & 19). A charcoal sample from one of the pits produced a radiocarbon date in the late Neolithic period of 2880-2580 BC (95.4% probability). The Neolithic date for activity at this site is particularly interesting, as barrow type monuments are known to date in the main to the Bronze Age and Iron Age periods. (Wallace 2018). Attached image: MA030-093----_01.JPG prior to excavation, viewed from N MA030-093----_01.JPG prior to excavation, viewed from W Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 21 June 2018