Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo: Report 2011

other associated monuments in this system are the two large circular house sites which could be
comparable to the middle Bronze Age Belderg Beg site.
On Seefin the field systems are more likely to be Neolithic in date, not only because of the two
associated court tombs. On the south side of the hill a number of pine tree stumps are visible in the
base of the peat and are clearly later than the field walls beneath. To the south of the hill the peat
with the pine stumps extends across a broad level area where there are no field walls evident. The
depth of peat beneath the trees becomes progressively deeper up to 1.8m. Two pine trees from
each area have been dated. In Annaghmore a tree directly on top of a wall was dated to 3330-2870
cal BC (UCD-C26, 4350±60BP), and a second tree in the base of the peat just 3m from a wall was
3340-2920 cal BC(UCD-C50, 4440±60BP), Caulfield et al 1998. An identical date to this was obtained
for a tree further to the south in Annaghbeg that grew on 1.8m of peat (UCD-C24), while a second
tree on 1.4m of peat was 2470-2050 cal BC (UCD-C38, 3820±60BP). This indicates the peat was
established in this area by middle Neolithic times. While the court tombs are on the hill sides the
two similar round cairns are more prominently sited although neither is on the highest point of the
hill. It would seem that, along with the similar Knockboha cairn on Carrowmore hill, they were
deliberately sited to be visible from mutually exclusive areas. The dating of such cairns is
problematic although O’Sullivan and Downey (2011) argue that a significant number could be
classified as Passage Tombs. The central depression on the top of the Carrowcuilleen cairn Site B
could indicate a collapsed chamber. The Aghaleague cairn Site A however has a surrounding ditch
2.0 – 2.5m wide and at least 1.25m deep which was located by probing.
In Barnhill the only associated monuments are two court tombs while in the Carrowmore –
Rathlackan area the greater variety of associated monuments indicates a more complex landscape.
As elsewhere it is difficult to date the construction of all the field walls but the association with both
court and wedge tombs could indicate use from at least the middle Neolithic into the Bronze Age.
The excavations at the Rathlackan court tomb have shown ample artifactual and radiocarbon
evidence for middle Neolithic activity with earlier activity hinted at by the presence of two sherds of
an early Neolithic carinated bowl from the court. The house structure beside the tomb was dated to
the late Neolithic from charcoal on the well preserved hearth and similar dates came from the court
and rear chamber. The enclosure wall surrounding the house and built onto the side of the tomb
may also have been built at this time. Use of the tomb in the Early Bronze Age was indicated by
sherds of a Vase Urn in the rear chamber and a Cordoned Urn in the front chamber. However
whether the surrounding fields were continuously used and inhabited throughout this long period is
not yet clear. It is likely there were alterations to the field walls over time for example the wall
extending from the Castletown Ma107 court tomb would seem to have been built after the tomb
and prior to the N-S wall to the west of the tomb.
The great variety in shape and size of the seventeen house structures in this area no doubt reflects
varying functions as well as dates. The only secure dating evidence is for the excavated H13 which
gave two late Neolithic dates of 2880-2490 cal BC (Beta-48102) and 2870-2450 cal BC (Beta-63836).
Because of its unique small square shape, absence of artifacts and very high quantity of charcoal this
site may have had a particular function in relation to activities associated with the tomb rather than
as a regular dwelling site. Two other sites within enclosures and three round houses attached to the
ends of field walls are likely to be contemporary with those walls. The six free standing structures
are difficult to stratigraphically relate to the walls. Two structures are built against a long field wall
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