2005:944 - MANORHAMILTON: Tuckmillpark and Manorhamilton, Leitrim

The soil-stripping of the greater part of the works for a large area for a hotel and several houses in Manorhamilton and Tuckmillpark townlands was monitored intermittently in late 2005. There were many pieces of modern crockery throughout the site. A scatter of what looks like cremated bone and a coin were found on an east-facing slope at the north-west of the site. The coin was submitted to Michael Kenny, NMI, who described it as: ‘Farthing-size but extremely worn. Probably 18th century. There is virtually nothing left in terms of design and lettering.’

At an advanced stage of the soil-stripping a number of burnt spreads were exposed on a peninsula formed by a small river, and licence to excavate was acquired. Four of these were excavated fully in December.

Spread A was 1.3m north–south by 1.2m, in reality circular. The surface of the charcoal was undulating. On excavation, it was found to be 0.04–0.1m in depth, generally 0.07m. Its content was entirely charcoal, with many pieces of wood clearly visible. There were no stones in this spread. The bottom of the spread was slightly dished and there were only slight indications of burning of the underlying sandy clay.

Spread B was 0.45m north–south by 0.54m, almost circular. On excavation, it was found to be 0.04m in depth. Its content was dark-grey/black soil, but no charcoal. There were no stones in it. The underlying sandy soil was red, probably due to heat, to a depth of 0.04–0.05m.

Spread C was 0.37m north–south by 0.8m. On excavation, it was found to be at most 0.12m in depth. Its content was fire-cracked sandstone and a grey/brown soil. Besides the burnt stones and ?burnt soil, were a very few scraps of charcoal but no indication of burning of the underlying ground. It is doubtful if this material was from a fire at this location.

Spread D has not yet been dug.

Spread E was no more than a collection of five or six stones, most of them fire-cracked. There was no indication of burning, either of soot or reddening of the ground. It may well be that these stones had been moved during the soil-stripping and were not in situ.

There are at least two more large areas to the south with sooty soil. In between these and those excavated there is an area that has not been stripped as yet which probably has other burnt spreads. These will be excavated in 2006. A further report will be made next year.

Bóthar an Chorainn, Keash, Co. Sligo