2007:1901 - Kilbeg 5, Westmeath

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 July 2005 (A016/029). The site was excavated between February and April 2006. An area measuring 20m by 30m was opened.
The site at Kilbeg 5 consisted of two separate burnt mounds, each associated with a number of pits and troughs. The northern of the two burnt mounds (Burnt Mound A) sealed a circular trough and a possible structure which was defined by a number of post-holes and a hearth. In addition to this central group of features, a number of isolated pits, stake-holes, post-holes and a second shallow rectangular trough were also identified. The overlying burnt-mound deposit of heat-fractured stone and charcoal-rich clay was c. 8m in diameter and 0.18m deep.
The second burnt mound (Burnt Mound B) was located immediately south of Burnt Mound A. The central feature of this was a large trough which was 4m by 2.25m and 0.5m deep. This trough had a group of seven stake-holes around its base and a second group of five stake-holes external to, and around the edge of, the trough. The stake-holes at the base of the trough may have been the basis for a wattle lining around the inside edges of the trough. A second trough was located to the south of this and had a drain or gully leading out from its southern end towards a stream which flowed just outside the southern boundary of the area of excavation. These features were sealed by the burnt-mound deposit of heat-fractured stone and charcoal-rich clay, which was 16m east–west by 12m and 0.25m deep. No artefacts 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.