County: Mayo Site name: DEERPARK EAST II
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0563
Author: Richard Gillespie
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 499694m, N 785452m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.808919, -9.522984
These sites were discovered during topsoil removal for the Westport Main Drainage and Waste Water Disposal Scheme. This licence covered three areas of archaeological potential close to each other. They were identified during monitoring of soil-stripping in advance of pipe-laying. Three concentrations of burnt stone and charcoal, typical fulacht fiadh material, were identified. Areas 1 and 3 yielded in situ archaeological material while Area 2 was an insubstantial spread of burnt stone that was redeposited or very disturbed.
Area 1 appeared roughly circular in plan with a diameter of 7m. It rested on a mixed sand and peat layer which preserved an extensive area of timbers with an overall area of 8m by 10m. Features within this area included part of a wicker-lined trough, a split plank that may have been part of a walkway, and a large quantity of well-preserved wood, some of which had cut ends and preserved axe-marks. Some animal bone and a flint waste flake were retrieved from this area.
Area 2 was an irregular deposit of burnt stone and charcoal. It measured 5m by 7m. On excavation it proved to be insubstantial and is likely to be the redeposited remains of a disturbed burnt mound.
Area 3 measured 6.7m by 7.5m and was roughly oval in plan. It consisted of a spread of burnt stone and charcoal, 0.15m thick, which lay directly on the natural peat. One archaeological feature was sealed by the spread. It consisted of six parallel timbers set in sand resting in the peat. This was either a small platform or the base of a trough.
Westport Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
