2005:1553 - HALLSFARM, Westmeath

The excavations of Sites 2.1–2.4, Hallsfarm, were carried out in advance of the N6 Kilbeggan–Kinnegad road scheme. Sites 2.1 and 2.2 consisted of two spreads of burnt-stone material. Both spreads were truncated in places by modern agricultural activity. Underneath the spreads twelve oval and subcircular pits were identified, the main concentration in the extreme western part of the site.
The pits to the west mostly contained burnt-mound material, with some charcoal present. Two oval-shaped pits were identified to the east of the burnt-stone spreads, situated next to each other and orientated approximately north–south. Both pits were of a similar shape and size and measured c. 1.75m by 1.17m and were 0.2m in depth. Both pits’ base fills consisted of layers of charcoal and the natural into which the pits were cut had suffered from extensive burning, suggesting that the charcoal was the result of burning in situ, possibly through their use as hearths.
Three parallel ditches were also identified, running east–west across the site. The ditches were hand dug and kinked in places. The upper fill was identified as post-medieval through pottery sherds recovered from it, but the lower fills contained no datable artefacts, only a large amount of snail shells.
Hallsfarm 2.3 was situated to the north-east of Site 2.1. The site proved to be non-archaeological. Hallsfarm 2.4 was also situated to the north-east of site 2.1. The site consisted of a small oval kiln with an associated north-west-running flue. The kiln’s overall length was 2.2m. The width of the bowl measured 0.95m and the width of the flue 0.55m. The maximum depth of the bowl was 0.27m. The kiln contained two main fills. The upper fill was mid-brown silty clay that contained occasional stone and charcoal. The lowest layer was mainly in the base of the bowl and consisted mainly of charcoal. The natural into which the kiln or oven was cut had been burnt in situ.