County: Galway Site name: Doughiska
Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA082–043 Licence number: E002052
Author: Liam McKinstry, 9 Ballantyne Place, Steamboat Quay, Limerick, Co. Limerick, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd.
Site type: Prehistoric burnt mounds
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 534402m, N 726352m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.283430, -8.983710
The site, excavated on the N6 Galway to Ballinasloe scheme, Contract 1, consisted of a large kidney-shaped mound of shattered and decayed stone. The mound measured 18.1m north–south by 15.5m and had a maximum height of 1.22m. The mound was surrounded by three other smaller mounds and a small stone spread was also identified. The excavation was undertaken on behalf of Galway County Council and the National Roads Authority.
It was unclear upon excavation if the stone from the four mounds was shattered through frost action or from heat, as there was very little associated charcoal with the stone and the stone had not undergone the physical changes associated with burnt stone such as colour change. As well as a lack of charcoal, there was also only one associated feature, a shallow oval pit, which was located under one of the smaller mounds. The date of these mounds is difficult to ascertain. The lack of charcoal, obvious burnt stone and troughs would suggest that the mounds were not the classic Bronze Age fulachta fiadh but served some other function. The morphology of the mounds would suggest that they were of a prehistoric date, although this will have to be confirmed using scientific dating methods.
