County: Westmeath Site name: Cregganmacar 2
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A016/039; E2667
Author: Patricia Lynch, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Burnt spread and ditches
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 617053m, N 737537m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.387723, -7.743646
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 April 2006. An excavation area measuring 30m by 20m was opened.
The site consisted of a potential burnt mound/fulacht fiadh, including the remains of two potential troughs. The first trough was 3.5m long by 2.25m wide and 0.55m deep, while the second had dimensions of 1.85m long by 1.2m wide and 0.25m deep. Evidence of possible lining was recorded in the first of these troughs, comprising four post-holes. The site had been heavily disturbed by later agricultural activities as evidenced by the identification of furrows and removed field boundaries on the site. 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.
