Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo: Report 2011

Survey on the Glenamoy – Bartnatra Peninsula
Noel Dunne
This draft chapter reviews Noel Dunne’s survey work at the western end of the NBNM landscapes.
Minor work on text and images is required for completion. Further editing and cross referencing with
other chapters will be required. We need to finalise new GIS figures for this chapter to replace those
used in Dunne’s MA thesis and – all relevant data has been digitised as part of this phase of the
project. Figures are not included in this draft. Dunne will obtain new publication quality plates to
accompany the final text. Those taken in the 1980s are considered to be in need of updating.
Introduction
In the Summer of 1979, Prof. Seamas Caulfield switched his attention from excavation work at
Belderrig to reconnaissance survey of pre-bog archaeology, focussing on the Northwest corner of
Mayo. This survey revealed evidence of pre-bog boundaries on moderately elevated slopes at a
number of locations, including the Northeast portion of the Mullet peninsula in the townlands of
Knocknalina, Moyrahan, Shanaghy and Tallaght. Individual occurrences were also recorded at Tristia
to the Southwest of Carrowmore Lake, Glencullin Upper to the East of Carrowmore Lake and
Rosdoagh on the Rossport peninsula. Isolated megaliths in the Northwest, such as Rosduagh,
Shanaghy and Tristia (de Valera and O Nuallain, 1964, Ma2, Ma18 and Ma45) were all shown to have
pre-bog walls in their vicinity.
Further sites were recorded to the North of Carrowmore Lake over a geographical area for
convenience titled the Glenamoy – Barnatra peninsula, with pre-bog boundaries located in the
townlands of Faulagh, Muingerroon South, Knocknalower, Gortmelia and Gortbrack North. The
present author expanded the survey work in this latter area from 1983 to 1985 as part of an MA
thesis in Archaeology at UCD, titled Pre-Bog Archaeology, The Glenamoy-Barnatra Peninsula, Co.
Mayo.
Study Area
As stated, the present study area concentrates on the Glenamoy – Barnatra peninsula, covering an
area of c. 53kms 2 , with a maximum E-W distance of c. 10kms and N-S of 8kms. The peninsula is
bounded on the North by Broad Haven Bay and on the West and Southwest by Inver Bay and Tra
Kirtaun, both inlets of Broad Haven Bay. On the Northeast, Sruwaddacon Bay and the Glenamoy
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