County: Galway Site name: Rathwilladoon 4
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A044; E3655
Author: Ed Lyne, IAC Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 541113m, N 693966m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.993191, -8.877138
At Rathwilladoon 4 (commenced on 10 October 2007) an area of 20m by 20m was opened up to reveal the north-western edge of a burnt mound. This mound was located on the edge of an area of wetland, on poor-quality land, and was still visible as a grass-covered horseshoe-shaped mound. The part of the mound within the area of development consisted of the edge of the mound furthest from the horseshoe ‘mouth’, effectively the back of the monument.
Upon removing the sod from the edge of the mound, typical burnt-mound material was uncovered. When this was removed, it was found that the mound sat on a pale grey silty clay natural geological deposit. Some possible features were revealed beneath the mound material, but, given their irregular nature, it was felt that these represented tree boles that contained some mound material as a result of tree roots disturbing the mound in the past.
Some post-medieval drainage features and furrows were also recorded on site. These were on the edge of the better-quality land to the north-west of the mound and were of no archaeological significance. It is likely that any trough or pits associated with this mound remain untouched outside the area of development, in the opening of the horseshoe-shaped mound. The excavation was completed on 18 October 2007.
