County: Westmeath Site name: MULLINGAR (Area G)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0094
Author: Stephen Reed, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Burnt pit
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 651048m, N 750208m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.499395, -7.230581
This area was identified during monitoring of the N4 Mullingar Realignment and Widening Scheme. Topsoil-stripping revealed the presence of two pits. The westernmost pit was rectangular. Some 7m to the east of this, an almost circular pit was revealed.
The rectangular pit was orientated north-west/south-east and measured 1.8m by 0.95m and 0.12m deep. The base of the pit had been scorched by in situ burning, and both fills contained charcoal, ash lenses and burnt stones. No finds were recovered from its fill.
Some 7m east of this was an almost-circular pit cut into the subsoil. The diameter of the pit was c. 0.6m. The base was stepped; the higher level was at a depth of 0.3m, stepping down to a depth of 0.5m on the south-west side of the pit. A piece of burnt limestone had been placed within the pit, prior to deliberate infilling, and lay on this step. The fills of the pit contained charcoal fragments, but no charred bone was observed.
Sieving of Fill 228 has yielded two sherds of decorated possible Bronze Age pottery; these are now awaiting identification.
3 Canal Place, Tralee, Co. Kerry
