Barrow — unclassified in Clonin,toberdaly

A possible barrow (ext. diam. 10.8m; int. diam. 7.86m.) on the field surface. The site consists of a circular stone bank enclosing a flat interior. There is no evidence for an entrance feature, internal ditch or funerary deposit; however, it has been substantially disturbed by milling activity. The least disturbed sections, at the field center to the E and W, were cleared of loose peat revealing a bank (Wth 1.37-1.64m). The stones (av. L 0.22m; av. diam. 0.14m) are packed in a haphazard, irregular manner with various stone types and sizes in use. The majority of the stones can be described as cobbles, while a very small number of flags are present. There is a lot of natural wood in close proximity. An ex situ flint flake, a possible hone stone and a possible quartzite hammer stone (01E0663:14; 01E0663:15 and 01E0663:17) were recovered from the stone bank and a possible quartz hammer stone (01E0663:16) was recovered 24.8m to the W. (01E0663:4), a possible arrowhead, may also derive from this site. The site is in a soil-like peat with traces of minerals (e.g. sand) and a thin lens of charcoal immediately below this. SMR OF011-059---- is approximately 15m to the NW and may be associated. In 2008 archaeological testing was carried out by Jane Whitaker of ADS Ltd. in Toberdaly and Clonin townlands in Ballybeg Bog, Co. Offaly, on 22–26 September 2008. A stone enclosure (OF011–060---) and stone-lined hearths (OF011–059----) were initially identified during a survey by the Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit in 2001, when they were recorded as a barrow and prehistoric habitation site. The sites, which are located 15m apart, were partially excavated by Ellen O’Carroll (formerly of ADS Ltd) at the site, in 2002. The area (NGR 251372 / 233357) subject to testing, in 2008, was located on a Bord na Móna production field between the two sites. This central production field was not investigated at the time of excavation but the northern drain face was cleaned and charcoal and stones were recorded within the section. The site has been set aside from production since 2002; however, Bord na Móna wished to establish the full extent of the site in order to put an appropriate programme of works in place. The purpose of the testing was to determine the full extent of the archaeological features/activity at the site. The licence was re-activated and transferred in September 2008. A total of five trenches were excavated by hand to archaeological levels. Archaeological features were recorded in three of the five trenches and were composed of charcoal spreads and charcoal and stone features. The archaeological activity was orientated north-west/south-east over three production fields and measured 45m in length and a minimum of 35m in width. A total of seventeen flint lithics were recorded and recovered from three of the trenches. The radiocarbon dates obtained after the survey and the excavation indicate that the site, as a whole, dates to between 4220 and 2300 bc (Bennett 2011, 302). Compiled by: Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (University College Dublin). Date of upload/revision: 08 November 2011