County: Mayo Site name: BALLYGLASS td
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Mr. Sean Ó Nualláin, Archaeological Officer, Ordnance Survey of Ireland
Site type: Megalithic tomb - court tomb (Mayo 13)
Period/Dating: Neolithic (4000BC-2501 BC)
ITM: E 509671m, N 838105m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.283742, -9.387217
The excavations in progress at Ballyglass, Co. Mayo are a continuation of the work which commenced on the court tomb in 1969. Excavation during the current season concentrated on the north west gallery and the heavy cairn mass behind it.
At the northern end of the cairn and running north west from the court entrance, part of the base of a kerb of dry-stone work, similar to that found the previous season, was revealed. A single stone, about 8 metres behind the back of the gallery, appears to mark the north west end of the kerb. The evidence as a whole, now indicates that the outline of the kerb took the shape of two opposed wedge-shaped forms with the junction of the broad ends at the middle of the monument. The estimated overall length of the monument is about 45 metres and its greatest width (at the middle of the court), 13 metres.
It was necessary to remove two large displaced roof-stones from the front chamber before excavation there could commence (those have been temporarily buried in the court). The fill of the chamber consisted of stones (probably re-deposited field stones) and clay and it was evident that no meaningful stratification would be forthcoming. Among the finds, which were disappointingly few were a small polished stone axe, some featureless sherds of pottery and a small quantity of cremated bone found scattered throughout the fill. There was a shallow pit in the floor on the northern side of the chamber.
The fill of the back chamber was similar to that in the front chamber. Finds, however, were more abundant and included two polished flint javelin-heads, a number of hollow scrapers and a small quantity of cremated bone. Numerous sherds of Neolithic pottery, some of which bear decoration were also recovered. Five pits were found within the chamber. One of these, at the south, was lined with small thin slabs and this lining ran under one of the chamber side-stones indicating that the pit was constructed before the orthostat was placed in position.
Removal of the large cairn stones behind the north west gallery revealed the foundations of a rectangular timber house. The house, which was not excavated this season, measures at least 10 metres long and is 6 metres wide. It is orientated north west-south east and is outlined by foundation trenches and postholes. Part of the southern wall of the house ran under and beyond the dry-stone wall of the kerb. The north east end of the house has a cut-away corner similar to the house at Haldon, in Devon. The position of the opposite end of the structure has not yet been established. The house appears to have been divided into three separate compartments.
Though it was not possible to proceed with the excavation of the house this season, a trial excavation across one of the foundation trenches produced some sherds of shouldered Neolithic pottery similar to wares found in the court tombs.
