Lismullin– part of a greater national monument

The defining archaeological feature associated with the major prehistoric royal centres of Navan Fort, Co Armagh, Knockaulin, Co Kildare, Rathcroghan, Co Roscommon and the pre-eminent royal site of Tara, Co Meath, is the concentration of large-scale, high-status and unusual monument types, many of which are of a funerary, ritual or ceremonial nature. It has long been recognised that each monument within the Tara landscape is an integral part of Tara.

The recently-discovered ceremonial enclosure at Lismullin, one of many archaeological monuments along the motorway corridor, is the only one to have been elevated to national monument status. It is a remarkable monument, though at 80m in diameter, is nowhere near as extensive as the multi-period archaeological complex at Baronstown, situated mid-way between the hills of Tara and Skryne. Neither has it yielded the extraordinary range of high-status artefacts that has come to light at the early-Medieval site at Roestown, north of Dunshaughlin, or the exotic range of late-Prehistoric / early-Historic burial practices unearthed at Collierstown. In this instance, however, its royal credentials simply cannot be denied.

The most compelling archaeological parallels to the Lismullin monument can be found at Navan Fort, Knockaulin and Rathcroghan. Here, too, within the confines of a ritual enclosure or sanctuary, are found large, timber-built circular structures approached by a funnel-shaped avenue from the east. Dating to the late-Bronze Age / Iron Age, these ‘temples' are inextricably linked to the pre-Christian ritual and ceremonial activities that occurred at these major royal centres. Lismullin is no different. Situated adjacent to the River Gabhra with an unobstructed view to the Hill of Tara, its presence in the valley demonstrates conclusively that those who built it perceived this place to be an integral part of Tara's ritual landscape.

Joe Fenwick is a lecturer at the Department of Archaeology, NUI Galway.