County: Leitrim Site name: RINN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LE036-045008 and LE036-045009 Licence number: 04E1141
Author: Christopher Read, North West Archaeological Services
Site type: Hut site
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 610227m, N 794393m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.898840, -7.844392
Two potentially prehistoric structures/houses were excavated after their discovery through monitoring associated with the construction of Lough Rynn Golf Course (Excavations 2003, No. 1123, 03E1761). A total of 50 definite and potential archaeological features were revealed during the first phase of topsoil-stripping associated with the golf course construction. While most of the sites discovered to date have the potential of being preserved in situ, these two likely prehistoric structures required full preservation by record. A number of struck flint and chert items were found in association with the structures.
Site 27
A possible house site was identified during monitoring situated on the south-east-facing slope of a hill north of and overlooking Lough Errew. It is defined by a horseshoe-shaped slot-trench up to 0.7m wide and open to the east. There were traces of a possible surface just inside the foundation trench on the west side. This consisted of a thin, patchy, compact mottled grey/brown clay with charcoal flecking. The circumference of the foundation trench is 11m and it measures 7.3m north-south by 3.5m in overall extent.
Site 28
A second possible house site was identified during monitoring on the top of a hill north of and overlooking Lough Errew. The structure is situated c. 30m west of Site 27. It consists of a horseshoe-shaped foundation trench open to the east. The foundation trench was filled by a dark, brown/grey clay with frequent concentrations of charcoal throughout. The circumference of the trench measured 11m with the structure measuring 5.9m north-south by 4.5m in overall extent.
No hearths were found in either house, implying that they may have been temporary shelters. No other features were revealed in direct association with the houses, although they are in close proximity to a total of five fulachta fiadh. Post-excavation work is ongoing.
Cloonfad Cottage, Cloonfad, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
