2004:1508 - CLOGHOGUE UPPER, Sligo

In a number of areas within the karst landscape of the Bricklieve Mountains, Co. Sligo, a series of pits, which have been termed 'scoops/hollows', occur (Bergh 1995, 52). They are classified as quarries inthe RMP. These 'scoops' appeared to reflect a spatial relationship with the Carrowkeel/Keshcorran passage tomb complex (ibid., 52–3). Clusters of these occur in Cloghogue Upper, Treanscrabbagh and Carnaweelan townlands, where they are found on sloping ground below and to the north of a passage tomb. A research excavation of one of these 'scoops' was carried out over one week in June 2004.

Within the townland of Cloghogue Upper, c. 600m to the north-north-west of, and below, cairns C and D in the Carrowkeel/Keshcorran complex's main ridge, is the largest cluster of c. 200 of these scoops. They cover an area of c. 600m north-south by 400m. These circular or subcircular depressions measure between c. 4m by 4m and c. 10m by 10m and are c. 1m deep. A 12m by 1m excavation trench was made across a selected 'scoop'. Three 1m by 1m test-pits were opened outside the excavation area to test for cultural activity in the immediate vicinity.

The result of the excavation showed that the 'scoops' form part of the Bricklieve karst landscape and are in fact naturally occurring dolines (sinkholes; closed depressions). Five pieces of worked chert and one piece of worked flint were found in the very thin layer of topsoil of the main trench. However, it cannot be claimed that any major cultural activity occurred in prehistory at the doline, nor can it be certain whether or not the doline that was excavated actually existed at the time that the passage tombs at Carrowkeel were constructed. The clustering of the dolines, with a large concentration in Cloghogue townland (c. 200), is caused by concentrated subsurface hydrological action that leads to subsidence. The large numbers of dolines in the area are created by this subsidence process occurring where there are layers of chert in the limestone bedding planes. This causes the dolines to form at a similar rate over time and the chert regulates the scale of the doline. This process leads to the geological formation of doline fields, where one can encounter large numbers of these regularly sized closed depressions (Mathew Parkes, Geological Survey of Ireland, pers. comm.).

Although these dolines in Cloghogue Upper are natural features in the landscape and no direct cultural evidence was found during the excavation, it cannot be entirely ruled out that other dolines in the Carrowkeel region have a cultural context that relates to the prehistory or historical period of the Bricklieve Mountains.

Reference
Bergh, S. 1995 Landscape of the monuments: a study of the passage tombs in the Cuil Irra Region, Co. Sligo. Riksantikvarieambet Arkeologska Undersoknigar, Stockholm.