2007:147 - CAHERAPHUCA (3–12), Clare

Caheraphuca 3 (NGR 139078 187630)
Caheraphuca 3 comprised a burnt spread measuring 3.7m by 4.5m by 0.35m. It sealed five pits (measuring between 2.3m by 1.5m by 0.85m and 1.03m by 0.72mm by 0.49m), which may have served as troughs. There appears to have been disturbance of the site by a tree bole and associated root action. Two probable post-medieval linear drainage/agricultural furrows, oriented east–west, were also recorded, one of which cut through the burnt spread.

Caheraphuca 4 (NGR 138994 187460)
Caheraphuca 4 comprised two burnt mounds measuring 15.5m north-west/south-east by 14m by 0.5m by 0.5m maximum depth and 7.7m north–south by 9m by 0.42m maximum depth respectively. The larger mound sealed a timber trough, which measured 2.5m north-west/south-east by 1.3m by 0.07m maximum thickness and comprised twelve horizontal planks running north–south, with another running perpendicular along the northern edge. A large unworked timber was recorded leading from the southern edge of the site towards the large burnt mound. As with the timber at Clooneen (see No. 155, Excavations 2007), there appeared to be no toolmarks on it, but it may have served as a walkway to the burnt mound. Smaller timbers were also recorded across the site, none of which were of archaeological significance. A possible coin was recovered from a tree bole that disturbed the larger burnt mound.

Caheraphuca 5 (NGR 138943 187441)
Caheraphuca 5 comprised a burnt spread measuring 6m north–south by 7.5m by 0.2m maximum depth and was located on the eastern edge of the peat basin. A large piece of timber was identified to the south-west of the spread, but site analysis indicates it may be non-archaeological.

Caheraphuca 6 (NGR 138874 187424)
Caheraphuca 6 comprised a burnt mound and two burnt spreads situated at the edge of the peat basin on either side of a current field boundary. The mound to the north of the boundary measured 14.5m east–west by 9.3m by 0.4m deep. It sealed a work platform (3.4m north–south by 1m) that was made up of 24 large flat stones. Adjacent to this platform was a piece of timber (2.7m north-east/south-west by 0.8m) that was held in place by nine large stones. It is believed that this timber was used as a trough for the mound. To the east of the mound, a large tree trunk ran north-east/south-west from the southern edge of the site and may have been used as a walkway from the edge of the bog to the mound. There was no evidence of toolmarks on the timber. A second burnt spread recorded in the stripped area to the north of the current boundary measured 4.4m in diameter by 0.16m in depth. This spread may be a disturbed context, as it was sitting in topsoil and was very thin. The source of this material may be the burnt mound. To the south of the current field boundary was a burnt spread measuring 8.4m north–south by 5.5m by 0.18m deep. One piece of wood was recovered from this spread, but it appears to be root, as it showed no evidence of having been worked and was in a good state of preservation despite being recovered from a dry-land context.

Caheraphuca 7 (NGR 138957 187367)
Caheraphuca 7 comprised a deposit of stones that appeared to have been burnt/heat-affected, such as those from a burnt spread, but with no charcoal inclusions. It measured 10m north–south by 8m by 0.4m deep. This deposit sealed a pit and two small deposits of burnt-spread material (burnt stones with charcoal inclusions). The larger of these two deposits measured 1.3m north–south by 0.7m by 0.1m deep, while the smaller deposit measured 0.88m north–south by 0.65m by 0.15m deep. The pit that was sealed by the stone deposit measured 2.2m north-west/south-east by 1.1m by 0.25m deep. The stone deposit that sealed the burnt-spread material was cut by two pits, which measured 3.3m north–south by 2.4m by 0.35m deep and 2.2m north–south by 1.6m by 0.15m deep. A flint scraper recovered from the stone deposit and a piece of chert, from the burnt-spread material, were the only finds.

Caheraphuca 8 (NGR 138903 187351)
Caheraphuca 8 comprised a burnt spread that measured 6.45m north-west/south-east by 5.45m by 0.13m deep. It was truncated by a modern drain, which also cut through a timber feature that was comprised of three split planks. It is possible that this feature was used as a trough or for water management. This spread sealed a layer of peat which in turn sealed a tree bole and root system. These roots seem to have been utilised as a work platform, as a clay-lined pit measuring 1.1m north-east/south-west by 1m by 0.1m deep had been constructed in the south-western corner of the roots. The remains of a rectangular timber structure or platform measuring 3m north-north-east/south-south-west by 3.15m were recorded at the eastern shore of the peat basin. The remains of a second timber structure/platform were recorded 1m to the south-west of the first structure. It measured 3.55m north–south by 2m. All the timbers recovered from these structures were in a poor state of preservation. A number of individual timbers with toolmarks were recorded across the site, along with the remains of felled, but otherwise unworked, trees. On the dry land to the east of the peat basin, two burnt spreads c. 5m in diameter by 0.1m deep were recorded. A stone axe and a number of pieces of debitage were recovered from the site.

Caheraphuca 9 (NGR 138855 187335)
Caheraphuca 9 comprised two pits measuring 1.05m by 1m by 0.4m deep and 1.8m east–west by 1.5m by 0.35m deep that were located on the western edge of the peat basin. They were filled with charcoal-rich silty clay and may have functioned as refuse pits. Two small spreads of greyish-brown silty clay with moderate charcoal inclusions were also recorded. These measured 3.4m north-west/south-east by 1m by 0.13m deep and 1m north-west/south-east by 0.8m by 0.06m deep. A linear drainage feature was also recorded. No finds were recovered.

Caheraphuca 10 (NGR 138894 187242)
Caheraphuca 10 comprised two burnt spreads, one located in the north-eastern corner of the site, with the second in the south-western corner. The spread in the south-west of the site measured 4m north–south by 7m by 0.22m deep. Despite the stones in the spread appearing to be burnt/fire-cracked, there was very little charcoal in evidence. There were a large number of earth-cast stones within the spread. The north-eastern spread measured 8m north–south by 10m by 0.4m deep. As with the other spread, there was no evidence of charcoal within the spread, despite the stones appearing to have been heat-affected. Both of the spreads were situated on dry land at the eastern edge of the peat basin. No finds were recovered.

Caheraphuca 11 (NGR 138854 187190)
Caheraphuca 11 comprised a roughly circular burnt spread that measured 5.1m in diameter by 0.28m deep and two associated pits that were filled with burnt-spread material. These pits measured 1.5m in diameter by 0.34m deep and 1.15m north–south by 0.85m by 0.28m deep. The site was situated at the south-eastern edge of the peat basin. Two timbers were recorded in the north-west corner of the site, oriented north-west/south-east, but were deemed not to have been deliberately felled or worked. A north-east/south-west-oriented modern field boundary was recorded in the south-eastern corner of the site area. Finds recovered included a chert scraper and eight pieces of debitage.

Caheraphuca 12 (NGR 139009 187503)
Caheraphuca 12 was a burnt mound measuring 10.85m north–south by 11.7m by 0.64m deep. It was located at the northern end of the bog basin, on yellow marl subsoil. The mound sealed a pit (possible trough) that measured 2.5m north-east/south-west by 2m by 0.12m deep. A water spring was identified immediately to the south-west of the burnt mound. No finds were recovered.

120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow