1995:247 - FORT WILLIAM, Carrowgobbadagh, Sligo

Two weeks' trial-trenching was carried out between 17 and 28 July 1995. This was followed by 18 weeks of full excavation between 21 August and 20 December 1995. A final week has just been completed on site at time of writing-report is pending.

The ditch did not touch the fort itself but it would have effectively enclosed and cut off the whole plateau area. The ditch averaged 2.4m in width and 1.2m in depth and could be interpreted as a defensive feature.

Within this enclosed area a further series of four ditches was uncovered, encircling the western edge of the fort itself. The innermost of these, up against the base of the fort, consisted of a broad, shallow, rock-cut ditch.

A later feature, consisting of a bank of upright stones, roughly followed the line of the ditches. This feature was partially covering and partially cut into the pre-existing ditch sequence. Neither this feature nor the ditches appear to have been defensive in nature, suggesting that this was possibly a site of ritual significance. There was a distinct lack of finds from any of these features, apart from the iron slag. A possible Iron Age or Early Christian date for this activity is suggested at this stage of the report.

A further area of activity was noted between these inner ditches and the outermost enclosing ditch. This consisted of a series of postholes and storage pits. A number of worked flint objects and a polished stone axehead were also recovered from this area.

Finally, a further area of activity was noted outside of the outermost enclosing ditch. This was located to the north-west of the site and consisted of a series of stakeholes. A number of worked flint and chert objects were recovered from this area. This may represent an earlier prehistoric (Neolithic?) habitation area.

16 Ormond Sq., Dublin 7 (on behalf of John Channing)