Known locally as ‘Gurteen’, this site measures roughly 30 metres from northeast to southwest and 24 metres from northwest to southeast. The mound rises modestly from its surroundings; its edges stand between 60 and 90 centimetres above ground level, whilst the centre reaches heights of 1.2 to 1.6 metres. Today, forest covers the entire site, which occupies rough, waterlogged terrain surrounded by higher ground of decent pasture land.

The mound’s location in marshy ground has led archaeologists to suggest it might be a type of crannog, those distinctive artificial island dwellings that dotted Ireland’s lakes and wetlands from the Bronze Age through to the medieval period. Crannogs were typically built by laying down layers of stone, timber, and earth in shallow water or marshy areas, creating defendable homesteads for local communities. The site appears on both the second and third editions of the Ordnance Survey 6-inch maps, indicating it has been recognised as a feature of archaeological interest for well over a century.

This description comes from the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled in 1983 by Brian Lacey and his team of archaeologists. Their work catalogued field antiquities across the county, spanning from the Mesolithic period right through to the 17th century, providing invaluable documentation of Donegal’s rich archaeological heritage. Whilst the exact age and purpose of the Gurteen mound remain uncertain, its presence adds another piece to the complex puzzle of how ancient communities adapted to and thrived in Ireland’s diverse landscapes.