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Excavation and Environmental Analysis of a Neolithic Mound and Iron Age Barrow Cemetery at Rathdooney Beg, County Sligo, Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Charles Mount ,
D.A. Weir ,
B. Collins ,
P. Lynch ,
A. O'Sullivan  and
M. Deevy
Charles Mount
Affiliation:
The Heritage Council, Kilkenny, Ireland
D.A. Weir
Affiliation:
4 Mount Michael Drive, Belfast
B. Collins
Affiliation:
Stoat Cottage, Co. Dublin
P. Lynch
Affiliation:
San Mateo, Lispopple, Swords, Co. Dublin
A. O'Sullivan
Affiliation:
The Discovery Programme, 13–15 Hatch Street Lower, Dublin
M. Deevy
Affiliation:
The Discovery Programme, 13–15 Hatch Street Lower, Dublin
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Abstract

Excavations and environmental analysis of a mound and two barrows indicate that activity commenced within the range 3930–3520 cal BC with the construction of a large mound enclosed by a substantial ditch on a drumlin which had been largely cleared to grassland. A pollen sequence recovered from the fosse indicates that the drumlin remained under grassland for some time. It was still under grassland in the Iron Age when a pair of sequential barrows was constructed about the period 380 cal BC–cal AD 80. The earlier bowl barrow covered a pyre site with remains of an inhumation burial, and the later saucer barrow contained three token cremation deposits in the low mound and ditch, the last associated with the iron fittings from a wooden artefact. Pollen analysis of the ditch sequences from the barrows indicates that the drumlin remained open and heather-covered.

Résumé

Des fouilles et une analyse de l’environnement d’un tumulus et de deux tertres indiquent que le site était entré en activité dans la fourchette 3930–3520 av. J.-C. en années calibrées avec la construction d’un important tumulus entouré d’un fossé substantiel sur une crête qui avait été en grande partie défrichée et mise en herbe. Une séquence de pollen récupérée d’un fossé indique que la crête est restée en herbage pendant un certain temps. Elle était encore couverte d’herbe à l’âge du fer quand une paire de tertres séquentiels fut construite vers 380 av. J.-C. et 80 ap.J.-C en années calibrées. Le tertre en rond, plus ancien, couvrait le site d’un bûcher funéraire recelant les restes d’une inhumation, et le tertre en forme de soucoupe, plus tardif contenait trois témoignages de dépôts de crémation dans la partie basse du tumulus et le fossé, ce dernier associé avec des ferrures provenant d’une boîte. L’analyse pollinique des séquences des fossés des tertres indique que la crête était restée non-boisée et était recouverte de bruyère.

Zusammenfassung

Die Ausgrabungen und Analyse des Umlands eines Hügels und zweier Hügelgräber weisen darauf hin, dass eine Belegung innerhalb der Zeitspanne von 3930–3520 cal BC mit der Konstruktion eines großen Hügels begann, der von einem solidem Graben auf einem Drumlin umgeben war, der größtenteils zu Grasland gereinigt war. Eine Pollensequenz aus dem Graben zeigr, dass der Drumlin für einige Zeit unter dem Grasland blieb. Er war noch während der Eisenzeit unter Grasland, als ein Paar zusammenhängender Hügelgräber in der Periode um cal BC 380 – cal AD 80 angelegt wurden. Das ältere schalenförmige Hügelgrab bedeckte dabei einen Verbrennungsplatz mit Resten eines Körpergrabes. Das spätere untertassenförmige Hügelgrab enthielt drei symbolische Verbrennungsschichten im flachen Hügel und im Graben, wobei das letztere mit den Eisenhalterungen von einer Kiste assoziiert war. Pollenanalysen der Grabensequenzen von den Hügelgräbern zeigen, dass der Drumlin offen blieb und von Heidekraut bewachsen wurde.

Résumen

La excavación y análisis medio-ambiental de un túmulo alargado y dos redondos indica que la actividad comenzó entre 3930–3520 cal BC con la construcción de un gran túmulo alargado rodeado por un considerable foso en una zona que había sido casi completamente despejado de vegetación y dejado como pasto. Una secuencia de pólenes recuperada del foso indica que el terreno permaneció cubierto de hierba durante algún tiempo. Permanecía aún cubierto en la Edad del Hierro cuando se construyeron un par de túmulos redondos alrededor del periodo 380 cal BC – 80 cal AD. El más antiguo, un túmulo tipo “bowl” cubría una pira con restos de un enterramiento por inhumación. El segundo túmulo, del tipo “saucer”, contenía tres depósitos cremados simbólicos en el túmulo inferior y foso. Este último estaba asociado con los adornos de hierro de una caja. El análisis palinológico de la secuencia del foso de los túmulos indica que el terreno permaneció abierto y cubierto con brezos.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 65 , 1999 , pp. 337 - 371
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1999

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