County: Sligo Site name: CALTRAGH, Cumeen
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 14:52 Licence number: 98E0545
Author: Eoin Halpin, Archaeological Development Services Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 566308m, N 836255m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.273988, -8.517274
The large and probably prehistoric enclosure of Caltragh lies in the townland of Cumeen, Co. Sligo. It surrounds a low, flat-topped hillock, in unimproved ground, overlooking Sligo Harbour to the north. It is defined by a low spread bank, which in places apparently turns into a low scarp, enclosing a roughly circular area some 130m in diameter. No internal features were visible above ground. On foot of an application to extend an existing planning permission westwards, closer to the enclosure, existing APs were examined. These suggested the presence of a possible second enclosing ditch. As a first step in investigating this feature a geophysical survey of the area through which such a ditch was thought to run was commissioned. However, this proved inconclusive. Consequently, a second phase of investigation, involving more direct methods, was proposed.
The assessment took the form of a series of machine-dug trenches in the proposed extension area. Two trenches, excavated to the east of the enclosure, were designed to determine the presence or absence of a second, contemporary enclosing ditch.
Two further trenches were opened to the north-east of the enclosure to investigate the nature of the geophysical anomalies noted in this area.
The results from the trenches to the east of the enclosure were inconclusive. A number of linear features were uncovered, but it was possible that they were of relatively recent origin, at least in the case of the feature found closest to the enclosure. Examination of the fills of the 'ditch' uncovered the pipe of a live sewer. However, a smaller ditch or gully, uncovered some 50m from the enclosure, may be significant and requires further examination. The second trench, to the north, revealed nothing of significance.
The pair of trenches to the north-east of the enclosure uncovered only one feature of potential significance. This was a small ditch or gully, visible on the surface, curving around apparently concentric to the main enclosure. Its form, once exposed, was similar to the smaller ditch uncovered in the first trench to the east of the enclosure, and it is possible that they mark the continuous line of an outer, albeit badly truncated, enclosure.
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