2001:1141 - CALTRAGH, Sligo

Pre-construction testing was carried out in the townland of Caltragh from 1 to 23 October 2001, in relation to the proposed Sligo Inner Relief Road, in a field which was first recorded as Field E. During a recent AIS carried out all along the route of the Sligo Inner Relief Road this field was recorded as Site 022. Site 022 was to the south of Field G, which was then under excavation (see No. 1137, Excavations 2001, 01E0395 ext.).

Thirteen test-trenches were manually investigated. Owing to the presence of archaeological remains in the surrounding fields, a geophysical survey was also carried out.

Nothing of significance was found in Test-trenches 1, 2, 5–7, 9, 10 or 13. Test-trench 3 was opened in the north-eastern corner of Field F, which joins Field E on the west, at the location of a topographical anomaly. Several archaeological features and monuments were previously identified there (Excavations 2000, No. 870, 00E0816) and a monument identified as a possible barrow is also visible here (Site 023, NGR: 16875 33433).

The north-eastern part of Field F was to be affected by the road project. Several drystone walls were also identified within this field, as several boulders protruded from the ground. It appeared that these walls are associated with a possible prehistoric coaxial field system. The anomaly consisted of a small circular mound approximately 2.5m in diameter. Sparse medium-sized stones were visible through the mound. They mostly consisted of limestone, sandstone and sparse mudstones. A few decayed stones were also recorded. The exposed dimensions of the mound were 1.7m north–south by 1.5m and 0.45m in depth. The larger boulders of the mound were visible at ground level. The mound was not excavated and was left in situ for full resolution.

A circular cut feature was uncovered approximately 0.6m to the east of the mound. It averaged 0.6m in diameter, was 0.3m deep and was stratigraphically associated with the mound. Test-trench 3 therefore revealed features associated with the prehistoric occupation of the landscape.

It was decided to open a further trench in this western part of the field to try to confirm whether most of the anomalies identified during the geophysical survey were natural. A large boulder was exposed in this trench. It was orientated north-west/south-east and measured 4.65m by 1.44m. The depth of the excavation reached 0.3m. The remains of a burnt pit were exposed at the northern limit of excavation. It averaged 0.6m in width and reached 0.16m in depth. It was filled with charcoal-rich material containing burnt stones and was truncated by a linear feature extending across the trench in a north–south direction.

Test-trench 12 was opened towards the centre of the field. An irregular cut/feature was investigated in the north-west corner of the trench. The known dimensions averaged 1.1m north-west/south-east by 0.5m wide by 0.33m in depth. It was not possible to determine the date or the nature of this feature.

Traces of a fulacht fiadh were also recorded, in the northern part of Field E. Its discovery was due to the passage of a tractor, which left deep tracks on the soft ground. Burnt material and stones were then identified. The full extent of this burnt mound is unknown. The ground was too waterlogged to be tested at the time. Several large stones also protruded from the ground surface near the fulacht fiadh; they might be the remains of another prehistoric drystone wall.
This phase of testing revealed archaeological features in parts of the field. Although it was possible to estimate the nature and location of the archaeology in the field, it was not possible to estimate the real density. Features appeared to be concentrated towards the north-north-eastern part of the field, the topographically lowest part, towards the valley and the marshy area. As with the archaeology uncovered in Field G, it appeared that the archaeological structures, features and deposits dated from the prehistoric period.

Horge House, Camp, Co. Kerry