County: Mayo Site name: FAULEENS
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A020/040, E3406
Author: Agnes Kerrigan, for Mayo County Council
Site type: Burnt spread
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 552948m, N 800581m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.952408, -8.716832
Area I
Excavation of this feature was undertaken on 19–24 January 2006. The areas were newly identified during centreline testing (A020/003) and were fully excavated in advance of the construction of the N5 Charlestown bypass. Area I was located c. 45m south of A020/038 (see No. 1452, Excavations 2006) (Area I) at an altitude of 108m OD. It was sealed by a layer of peat c. 1m thick. It lay at the base of steep ground that sloped into the peat basin, where A020/038 (Areas I and II) was located. It consisted of a spread of burnt stone in a matrix of peaty clay, which measured 9.2m north–south by 6.6m by 0.08–0.36m deep. It was irregular in shape and lay on the natural subsoil of the area. No other features of archaeological interest were identified.
Area II
Excavations were undertaken on this feature on 7–10 February 2006. It was located c. 59m south of Area I at an altitude of 109m OD. It was situated on the brow of the ridge that sloped northwards to the peat basin in Fauleens townland. A thin layer of topsoil, c. 0.15m thick, sealed the spread. The spread consisted of a small irregular-shaped deposit of burnt stones in a sandy silt matrix, which measured 2.52m north–south by 2.3m by 0.02–0.1m deep. The deposit lay directly over the sandy gravel natural subsoil. No other features of archaeological interest were identified.
Drummin, Westport, Co. Mayo
