County: Westmeath Site name: Cregganmacar 1
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A016/038; E2666
Author: Patricia Lynch, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Burnt spread
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 616913m, N 737575m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.388069, -7.745748
Testing was carried out as part of an archaeological mitigation programme associated with the N6 Kilbeggan to Athlone dual carriageway. The site was identified during testing undertaken by the writer in August 2005 (A016/029). The site was excavated in February 2006. An excavation area measuring 10m by 10m was opened.
Cregganmacar 1 displayed burnt-mound/fulacht fiadh activity. The site consisted of a layer of burnt-mound material that measured 3.85m long by 2.07m wide by 0.08m deep and comprised charcoal-enriched soil that contained heat-shattered stones. The burnt-mound material was overlaid on the sides by a layer of redeposited subsoil. In turn the burnt-mound deposits overlay a sub-oval uneven depression that contained a single pit and four post-holes. In plan the post-holes did not appear to represent a structure. It is possible that they represent a small windbreak or perhaps a frame for drying animal skins, etc. No finds were recovered during the excavation.
This work was funded by Westmeath County Council and the National Roads Authority.
Editor’s note: Although excavated during 2006, the report on this site arrived too late for inclusion in the bulletin of that year.
