County: Down Site name: DUNMORE: 1
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Audrey Gahan, ADS Ltd.
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 736722m, N 846102m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.345255, -5.897088
The construction of the Mournes' water pipeline has necessitated constant monitoring and occasional intervention, such as at the site of this burnt mound at the base of the east slope of Dunmore Mountain. Two burnt mound spreads had been identified, linked by an area of rough cobbling or platform. Excavation of only one, and part of the stone platform, was necessary, as the remainder could be preserved in situ.
The stone platform, or walkway, was found to be the earliest feature on the site. This was c. 5m wide and continued beyond the limit of excavation on both sides. A series of post-holes and small pits covered by the burnt mound material may relate to that phase of activity. The burnt mound consisted of layers of charcoal-rich soil containing large amounts of burnt and heat-shattered stone. It measured c. 10m east-west x 6m north-south and was crescent-shaped. A subsoil-cut trough was identified and found to be roughly U-shaped. This measured 2.4m x 1.6m and was 0.5m deep. The burnt mound appeared to relate to the final phase of activity on the site, and during the period of its use the stone walkway was added to.
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