County: Westmeath Site name: DEMESNE OR MEARSPARKFARM (6.1–6.5)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/017
Author: Lydia Cagney, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 634636m, N 734420m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.358858, -7.479675
Testing along one section of the planned N6 Athlone–Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath, was undertaken on behalf of Westmeath County Council and the National Roads Authority between February 4 and 18 2005. A spread of burnt-mound material was identified during testing. The topography of this location is undulating terrain consistent with glacial activity from the Midlandian era, which has produced many of the esker ridges predominantly associated with the midland region. The main concentration of archaeological remains in this area was within a large cutting containing the deposits described under Demesne or Mearsparkfarm 6.3–6.5. This was positioned upslope from a marginal area of wetland at a height of c. 73m OD. As with the other fulachta fiadh excavated within this townland, it was sited at the boundary or frontier of a linear valley of fen bogland, part of which has been identified as the previous (prehistoric) location of a lake. Demesne or Mearsparkfarm 6.1 and 6.2 describe two peripheral, though not necessarily associated, sites to the west of this that were excavated under the same number. In total, this area spanned c. 70m in an east–west direction. Approximately 105m separated this site and Demesne or Mearsparkfarm 8.3 (see No. 1542 below) to its east, while Demesne or Mearsparkfarm 5 was located 150m to its west.
Archaeological investigation of Demesne or Mearsparkfarm 6.3–6.5 revealed a spread of material derived from burnt-mound activity. Although these archaeological deposits were separated for recording purposes during the testing phase of the project, the removal of topsoil during resolution revealed a composite site, with the relationship between these features being clearly evident. Excavation of these revealed typical inclusions associated with fulachta fiadh; i.e. burnt and heat-shattered stones within a matrix of black, charcoal-rich material. A subrectangular trough was exposed below the main concentration of burnt-mound material.
The areas comprising Demesne or Mearsparkfarm 6.1 and 6.2 were sited c. 30m and 90m to the west of Demesne or Mearsparkfarm 6.3–6.5 respectively. Although these sites were excavated under the same excavation number, no direct association between them was evident during excavation. 14C dating of environmental remains may provide a clearer chronological picture of their association, should it exist.
While no artefactual material was obtained from this site, numerous environmental and charcoal samples were retrieved for dating purposes.
Post-excavation work and specialist analyses are currently ongoing; these will culminate in a final report within one year.
Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny
