County: Donegal Site name: Lough Mourne
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DG086–00201 Licence number: 10E0309; 10R0103
Author: Dave Bayley, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Megalithic cairn and burnt spreads
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 607800m, N 890243m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.760129, -7.878813
A programme of testing was undertaken to study the impact on the potential archaeological resource of a proposed dam, which is located adjacent to a megalithic tomb (DG086–00201) at Lough Mourne, Co. Donegal. Testing was recommended following an environmental impact assessment including a geophysical survey and a thorough public inquiry. A ground penetrating radar survey was also undertaken by Atlas Geophysics (10R095) on behalf of IAC Ltd prior to testing, which enabled specific areas of potential to be targeted.
A total of 31 machine-dug trenches were excavated across the site and three hand-dug trenches were excavated over the remains of the megalithic tomb. The assessment identified that much of the cairn material has been robbed, probably in connection with road or railway construction, and the survival is limited mostly to a single course or two of cairn material/rock, varying in depth from 0.1–0.45m. The cairn is oval and has very definite parallel sides on the north-west and south-east sides. The overall cairn material represents a structure that covers an area approximately 16m by 24m north-east to south-west.
No evidence for pre- or post-cairn field systems was uncovered and the only archaeological material identified was the remains of three small burnt spreads which appear to be focused on the cairn. These features were located in three test-trenches positioned to the north, east and south-east of the cairn.
All of the archaeological features will be directly impacted upon by the construction of the northern dam and it was recommended that the site be hand excavated prior to any construction work proceeding.
