2006:1727 - CURRINAH, Roscommon

Area I
Excavation was undertaken on this site from 13 February to 3 March 2006. The site was newly identified during centreline testing (A020/003) and was fully excavated in advance of the construction of the N5 Charlestown bypass. The site was located at an altitude of 115.76m OD. Area I was situated on the southern bank of a west–east-flowing stream. It also marks the townland boundary between Gortanure and Currinah townlands. The fulacht fiadh was sited on low-lying pastureland on fairly well-drained boulder clay at an altitude of 116m OD. RO008c–033, a fulacht fiadh, lies 15m to the north of the site.

The mound measured 12m east–west by 9.45m by 0.2m thick and consisted of fire-cracked stones in a charcoal-rich matrix. An earth-cut, stone-lined trough was located at the centre of the mound. The trough cut measured 1.94m by 1.48m by 0.3m deep and was rectangular in shape with rounded corners. The trough was filled with fire-cracked stones in a charcoal-rich matrix. Two large flat stones were placed upright at the east and west ends of the trough respectively. The east stone measured 0.7m long by 0.4m wide. The west stone measured 0.75m long by 0.3m. The east stone angled inwards at the top towards the trough. It may have been pushed out of position by the slumping of the mound material. The base of the trough was lined with a series of flat flagstones, which varied in size and shape. There was a gap of c. 0.12m between the base stone lining and the edge of the cut, suggesting the sides may have been lined with split timbers.

A number of post- and stake-holes were also identified in the corners of the trough, which may have been used to support side timbers. The south-west corner had one substantial post-hole and a smaller angled stake-hole. The north-west corner had a cluster of five post-holes. The north-east corner had a cluster of three post-holes. There were two post-holes identified in the south-east corner.

Several large stones were located under the south-east part of the mound and may have functioned as a basic revetment or preparation area.

Several pieces of worked flint and chert were recovered from the site.

Area II
Excavation was undertaken on this feature on 20–23 February 2006. The site was newly identified during the centreline testing (A020/003) and was fully excavated in advance of the construction of the N5 Charlestown bypass. It was a small burnt spread with an associated stone-lined trough, located 40m east and 12m north of Area I. It was situated on a gentle north-facing slope of well-drained pastureland which fell away to the west–east-flowing stream. The area was at an altitude of 116m OD. This was an irregular-shaped spread of fire-cracked stones in a charcoal-rich matrix, measuring 5.5m north-east/south-west by 4.48m by 0.08–0.38m thick. An earth-cut stone-lined trough was identified under the mound. The irregular-shaped trough measured 3.26m east–west by 1.9m by 0.38m deep. It had one fill, which consisted of fire-cracked stones in a charcoal-rich matrix. The stone lining varied in size and shape. There was a possible stone platform area to the west, which measured 0.78m in length and consisted of several horizontally placed large flat stones.

Area III
Excavation was undertaken on this feature on 20–21 February 2006. The site was newly identified during the centreline testing (A020/003) and was fully excavated in advance of the construction of the N5 Charlestown bypass. It was a small circular pit located 125m east and 13m north of Area I. It was c. 3m south of the existing N5 at an altitude of 114m OD and was separated from it by a post-and-wire fence.

The pit measured 2.02m north–south by 1.66m by 0.08–0.17m deep. It had two fills, the upper a pure charcoal layer, the lower a grey-coloured ash. The pit had been cut by a modern furrow. There was oxidisation on the base of the pit, suggesting in situ burning.

Drummin, Westport, Co. Mayo