2006:1998 - Shanakill, Waterford

This site consisted of two spreads of heat-shattered stone and charcoal, 160m apart, interpreted as possible burnt mounds, uncovered during archaeological work in advance of the East Waterford water supply scheme (see No. 2002 below, 06E0163). On excavation at the first of these, Site 7a, the entire stone spread measured 18.5m north–south by 6m. It continued west beyond the limits of excavation. The heat-shattered stones and the charcoal were mixed with the underlying riverine silt and the deposit was spread very thinly. It had an average thickness of 0.3m and the entire deposit appeared to have been disturbed by later ploughing and drainage activities. There was no evidence for hearths or troughs below this mound.
The second burnt mound was more intact. Within the area of excavation it measured 13m north–south by 8m and had a maximum thickness of 0.4m. It lay directly above a natural turf deposit that had accumulated above the basal riverine silt. Within the area of excavation there was no evidence for a trough or hearths below the stone. It appeared, however, that only the eastern edge of the mound lay within the excavation. The stone deposit sloped sharply upwards to the west and the bulk of the mound could be seen continuing north-west in the field adjacent to the excavation for a maximum of 48m. Samples taken from both burnt mounds are currently being processed for charcoal and macrofossil remains and work is under way for the production of preliminary and final reports on this site.