2006:1410 - BELDERRIG, Mayo

Excavations continued in 2006 at the site of Belderrig, Co. Mayo. The project is funded by the National Committee for Archaeology of the Royal Irish Academy.

In 2005 a 0.5m-wide section had been excavated along the south face of Trench 1. This year, the lower 20m of the trench were cleaned down to an extensive stone deposit. The interpretation of this deposit is key to the site as a whole, as it represents either an erosive feature or culturally constructed surfaces. Field observations, reinforced by comments by specialists, suggested that natural origins for the surfaces are hard to sustain. In particular, clustering of raw materials, apparent breaks in the surfaces and the sheer density of stone suggest an anthropogenic origin. In a narrow trench it is hard to assess the extent of these surfaces, but test-pits in previous years (Excavations 2004, No. 1136) and last year’s Trench 2 suggest that they may extend for some 50m. The possibility that the surfaces were deliberate constructions led to a significant change in sampling strategy. Until 2006 all spoil was dry sieved at 5mm, with bulk samples selected at random. This year a systematic approach to sampling was used, with every other 0.5m grid square being sampled in its totality and two litres of sediment from each other square also being sampled. An enormous quantity of samples resulted from this strategy and many still require processing. Planning of the stone layers, and the extensive sampling, slowed excavation considerably.

Excavations focused upon two areas of the stony surface, with a large sample left unexcavated for completion in 2007. The upper portion was targeted for excavation and large areas of the stony surface and underlying peat/silts were removed. Artefacts were found above, within and below the stony layer. Excavation of this area was incomplete due to the discovery of a complex lens of redeposited material within the peat/silts sealed by the stony layer. The extent of this lens, and its origins, could not be ascertained in the time available. Small features, including two truncated pits, were observed at the base. One was cut through the redeposited lens. Organic remains, including hazelnut shell, have been recovered from beneath the stony layers and will be submitted for dating.

A small cutting was excavated to examine an area of fishbone exposed in the cliff section (Trench 3). This excavation revealed a very similar sequence to that in Trench 2 last year, a clearly metalled surface overlying more irregular stony deposits, both sealing organic silts overlying clean sands and gravels. Fishbone and hazelnuts were recovered from the peat/silts and hazelnuts from the layers above this. Dates will be obtained on this material. Stake-holes were identified beneath the peat/silts and appear to correspond with gaps in the metalled surfaces above.

Artefacts include numerous lithics, mainly in quartz, but also including some chert and a little flint. Siltstone proved more numerous this year than previously, including some very fine large flakes and a formal core. Two exceptional flakes of rock crystal were recovered: both are of a remarkable quality raw material, almost completely glass-like, and of considerable size. The pieces, which include a retouched flake, are of some beauty. Most remarkably, an unusual schist artefact was recovered lying, pointing straight downhill, on top of the redeposited layer in Trench 1. This object is a thin, elongated piece which has clearly been fashioned into a point and may have had its base shaped. Ecofacts include further fishbones (possibly including more species than the wrasse and conger eel identified to date), mammal bone, plant macrofossils and insect remains.

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