County: Westmeath Site name: Culleenagower
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A016/043; E2671
Author: Yvonne Whitty, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Charcoal-rich pit
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 619830m, N 737287m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.385380, -7.701911
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 Patricia Lynch, IAC Ltd, in August 2005 (A016/029). The site was excavated in January 2006. Two excavation areas each measuring 10m by 10m were opened.
The site was located on the summit of a high hill which had commanding views of the surrounding landscape. The only feature identified was a possible charcoal clamp, which measured 3.6m by 1.8m and was 0.82m deep, which would have provided shelter from the wind.
The cut was linear with rounded terminals and contained evidence of in situ burning at the base. Stones lined the cut at its northern end; at the centre and southern end there was evidence of a collapsed stone structure and of a clay lining. The stones were probably to enable the flow of air around the base of the clamp until it was sealed with clay and soil. Abundant charcoal was recovered in large chunks; the average size was 0.08m by 0.04m by 0.06m.
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.
