Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo: Report 2011

The principal surviving components common to 4 of the 5 unclassified tombs, M1, M3, M4 and M7,
consist of an orthostat with a displaced capstone resting at its side. At 3 of these sites other stones
are evident, some of which may be orthostatic, but these are now in a very destroyed and collapsed
state. Two of these sites, M1 and M3, were known at the time that the Megalithic Survey of Ireland,
Vol 2 (de Valera and O Nuallain, 1964), was been compiled, but they were not included.
That survey represented a minimum definite rather than a maximum probable listing of megalithic
tombs and the 2 sites were not regarded as falling within the former category. However, having
conducted the present survey, these sites can be definitely regarded as being megalithic tombs,
even in their present state of collapse.
This judgement is substantiated by the 2 probed transects that were undertaken across site M3. The
transects show the presence, under the present bog surface, of a substantial subcircular cairn
surrounding the above ground megalithic remains. The cairn is at least 10m, and may be as much as
18.5m, in diameter and has a surviving height of up to 1m. Such probed transects could be expanded
in order to perform complete sub-surface contour plans of sites such as megalithic tombs still
covered by bog.
A maximum number of 8 cists, none of which are now visible, are known for the study area. Four of
these date to the prehistoric period, 3 are problematic and one is likely to be more recent.
The latter, site C5, was discovered in 1961 in Dooncarton or Glengad townland and consisted of an
unaccompanied inhumation in a long stone cist that was orientated E-W. The orientation and the
fact that the inhumation survived under a very acid bog cover, suggests that the site is not
prehistoric.
A very strong local tradition of a long stone cist, which contained an inhumation, exists for site C6. It
was located on level ground very close to the coast in Inver townland and was discovered in the
mineral soil, which had subsequently been covered by sand deposits. However, local reports
regarding the date of discovery and the form of interment are extremely conflicting.
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