1999:774 - ROCKINGHAM TO CORTOBER, Roscommon
County: Roscommon
Site name: ROCKINGHAM TO CORTOBER
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 99E0309
Author: Mary Henry
Author/Organisation Address: 24 Queen Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Site type: Fulacht fia, Burnt spread and Burnt mound
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 586269m, N 802711m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.973497, -8.209296
During summer and autumn 1999 Roscommon County Council undertook the realignment and widening of part of the National Primary Route (N4) between the towns of Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon. It was necessary to carry out licensed monitoring of topsoil-stripping that occurred along either side of the existing road. Substantial works remain to be completed, and the proposed Bypass section of part of the route has been deferred to summer 2000 or 2001. Advance archaeological investigations were undertaken in 1999 along the proposed Bypass section (see No. 765, Excavations 1999, Cloongownagh).
During monitoring of groundworks for the realignment of the existing road, archaeological sites were uncovered. In one townland, Hughestown, a substantial fulacht fiadh with a very well-preserved wooden tough was uncovered (see No. 768, Excavations 1999).
Elsewhere the remains of two fulachta fiadh along the route of the road scheme were uncovered and excavated. There were no traces of a wooden trough in either site. However, they were traces of the burnt mound in both sides. In other locations burnt spreads were uncovered. However, these appear to be little more than the remnants of hedge clearances.
Further monitoring works for the project will resume in 2000.