County: Mayo Site name: BELDERGBEG
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Mr. S. Caulfield, Department of Archaeology, University College Dublin
Site type: Field System
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 499275m, N 839750m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.296582, -9.547362
A preliminary investigation of a pre-bog field system at Beldergbeg, Co. Mayo was begun in November 1971 and is continuing at present (February 1972). The site is four miles west of the Behy-Glenulra field complex and less than half a mile from Belderg harbour.
The excavation so far has revealed a number of small conjoined enclosures of irregular pattern. Flint knapping was carried out in this enclosures over a wide area. One site yielded a number of hammerstones and a large quantity of crushed quartz. In this same area a number of sherds of pottery were found around and under a loose stone. It appeared at first as if one vessel had been broken by the stone but reconstruction indicates at least two vessels, one a shouldered round bottomed vessel and the other an unshouldered vessel. A number of thumb scrapers of flint and a projectile head were also found.
One long stone wall at the western side of the site lies on approximately 20-30cm of peat. Following the line of this wall and in some cases directly under it, a number of pointed stakes 8-12cm in diameter were found. The stakes were in the peat and did not penetrate the underlying soil.
It is hoped to continue excavation on the site in the coming summer.
