County: Sligo Site name: RATHSCANLAN, TOBERCURRY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 37:49 Licence number: 04E0306
Author: Christopher Read, North West Archaeological Services, Cloonfad Cottage, Cloonfad, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 551979m, N 811453m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.050000, -8.733300
The site of the proposed development, to consist of 28 houses, related accesses and services, is located in the townland of Rathscanlan, just outside Tobercurry. In the centre of the site, protected by a 20m buffer zone, is a ringfort. The site was tested (Excavations 2003, No. 1669, 03E1696), which revealed it to be devoid of archaeological features, with the exception of a potential archaeological burnt spread revealed in Trench 10, which was completely revealed and recorded at that stage. It was interpreted as a possible fulacht fiadh. Further investigation and possible rescue excavation was recommended.
The site was excavated in March 2004. The burnt spread measured 6.6m north-south by 4.6m. It consisted of charcoal-enriched soil, some heat-shattered stone and larger pieces of charcoal. A trench 1m wide and 6m long was excavated across the width of the spread. This revealed that the deposit measured 0.12-0.18m deep, bottoming on to fire-reddened natural clay. Found within the burnt material and at the interface between it and the fire-reddened natural clay were several pieces of early modern crockery and some clear bottle glass. The excavation of the trench revealed that the burnt spread was the result of in situ early modern burning.
