Burial mound in Slane Beg

Situated on the shoulder of a hill, with a marshy area at the foot of the hill to W, in pasture, with good views to W. Not depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map, however quarrying evident in same field c. 170m to SE. Located at OS Trig. Station/spot height (99m/324ft OD) on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map and current ed. OS 6-inch map. Described in 1983 as a low, circular-shaped mound (diam. 12m; H 1-2m) with a small, irregular-shaped raised area (diam. 3-4m) in the centre which has an uneven and quite disturbed appearance. A curvilinear earthen bank extends from the mound at E. Much of the area around the bank has been disturbed, leaving a series of humps and hollows on the surface of the field. There is a deep, broad circular depression on the NW side of the mound that appears to be the result of quarrying. Monument is not clearly visible on Digital Globe aerial photography, however a broad, roughly oval depression (approx. dims. 55m NW-SE; 58m NE-SW) adjoining to W, is clearly evident and probably represents the remains of post-1700 quarrying. Could be the remains of a burial mound or that of a stepped-barrow however the presence of the OS trig. station may suggest that the mound was altered or modified by the OS. Quarrying of post-1700 date immediately to W has also altered the condition of the earthwork. Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 11 January 2019