2001:1136 - CALTRAGH, Sligo

Several archaeological sites and monuments were identified during a field survey carried out in September 2000 in the townland of Caltragh, and some excavations have taken place in the same townland since winter 2000. Some fields containing archaeological remains are to be affected by the proposed Sligo Inner Relief Road.

Testing was required to establish the nature of newly identified features in Field G/Site 024, at the base of the Caltragh Valley. Testing was carried out in coordination with a geophysical survey. Seven test-trenches were excavated.

The first trench, 15m by 1m, was manually excavated at the location of a concentration of stones and boulders to the east of Field G, which were partially identified during field investigations as several stones protruded from the ground surface. The topsoil deposits sealed the remains of a stone structure, apparently the remains of a drystone wall, which were stratigraphically associated with the prehistoric occupation of the site and contemporary with the other walls identified in Field G and adjoining fields. It was made up mostly of five subrounded boulders, possibly granite rocks and sandstone. No filling or small stones were uncovered within this part of the trench. There was no evidence of packing or bonding. The known dimensions of the structure averaged 3m in length north-west/south-east by 1m. Several stones were noticeable above ground level to the east and west of the test-trench. These averaged 0.8m by 0.7m by 0.4m. A single course was recorded. Two flint flakes were associated with the wall.

The stone structure/wall was also associated with a stone surface made up of small and medium-sized stones, mostly subangular in shape. The full extent of this possible stone surface was unknown as it extended beyond the limits of excavation. A single course was identified. A linear cut was also exposed in this part of the trench. It partially ran under one of the boulders and was rich in charcoal flecks.

The second test-trench, 5m by 2m, was manually opened towards the centre of the field, at the location of a linear bank identified during the field survey. This bank ran in a north-east/south-west direction across the field. The remains of a stone feature were exposed. It was made up of medium–large-sized stones and sparse to occasional large stones. It sealed a gritty and sandy deposit which seemed to be the remains of a possible residual prehistoric topsoil. A large number of artefacts, including several flakes of débitage as well as hollow scrapers, thumbnails and blades, were recovered from it. Several sherds of prehistoric pottery were also found beneath a stone forming part of the structure.

The third trench, 5m by 1.5m, was manually opened to the north of the field and to the south of the existing boundary at the location of a possible feature identified during probing. No features were identified in this trench. A flint flake was recovered from the lower level of the trench.

Four test-trenches were mechanically opened to the west of Field G, on the inside of a very wide circular structure identified during previous investigations. The main element of this feature was a wall that seemed to enclose a marshy area. This stone wall was partially exposed in winter 2000 in a test-trench (Excavations 2000, No. 872, 00E0818) and during the excavation of Site No. 6 (see No. 1134, Excavations 2001, 00E0819), where it extended below a fulacht fiadh. The stratigraphical relationships between the wall and the fulacht fiadh indicated a probable prehistoric date for the structure. The wall was exposed on the north of the fourth test-trench, where it curved in a north to north-west direction.

Test-trench 4 was aligned north–south and measured 80m by 2m. Its northern end crossed the stone wall. In this trench the drystone wall averaged 2m in width. It was probable that the wall had collapsed, as large stones were exposed on both sides of the wall. The full extent of the feature, including the collapse, reached 4m in width.

Test-trench 5 was mechanically excavated perpendicularly to Test-trench 4. It measured 30m by 2m. No archaeological features were recorded in this trench.

Test-trench 6, excavated 10m to the west of Trench 4, measured 65m by 2m and was mechanically opened along the temporary fence aligned with the proposed road-take. It was sited on the eastern edge of the marsh present in the west of the field. Several small pits were exposed and investigated all along the trench. They were filled with a peat-like material. The ground was quite uneven and frequent stones were exposed within the residual material. A polished stone axehead was recovered on top of the residual deposit, below the peat. This axehead (possibly mudstone/shale) measures 113mm by 59mm (width taken at the cutting edge) by 24mm in thickness.

Test-trench 7 averaged 30m by 2m. A polished stone axehead, which seemed to be made of shale, was uncovered below the peat layer. It measures 117mm in length by 54mm in width (maximum) by 16mm in thickness.

Several prehistoric structures were exposed and investigated in this field, which is to be affected by the proposed Sligo Inner Relief Road. A large number of artefacts were also found during this phase of testing. These structures did not seem to be isolated as several other monuments and sites were also identified and tested (Excavations 2000, Nos 870–5, 00E0815–00E0819) in the adjoining fields. A large number of potential archaeological features and structures were also identified during the geophysical survey. Together with the excavated sites, they demonstrated that this field was of major archaeological significance. It was recommended to all relevant bodies that a full excavation should be undertaken prior to the road construction.

Horge House, Camp, Co. Kerry