County: Mayo Site name: Doonbreedia
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 06E0302
Author: Stephen J. Linnane, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Site type: Medieval(?) bowl hearths
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 508115m, N 813630m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.063609, -9.403638
During the course of monitoring of groundworks associated with the construction of the Mayo to Galway gas pipeline, archaeological features were observed and duly resolved at Doonbreedia, Castlehill, Ballina. Three approximately circular bowl-shaped pits were excavated with diameters of 1.42m (depth 0.58m), 1m (depth 0.31m) and 1.14m (depth 0.49m). Each of the pits had oxidised sides and bases, whilst the fills tended to be charcoal-rich and contained iron slag. The pits appear to have been used for iron smelting. The results of slag and radiocarbon analysis are awaited but it seems probable that these bowl hearths date to the medieval period, earlier or later.
