County: Westmeath Site name: Kilbeg 6
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A016/064; E2693
Author: Ed Lyne, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 629336m, N 736431m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.377247, -7.559103
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 in April/May 2006. Excavation areas measuring 10m by 10m, 25m by 30m and 10m by 15m were opened.
Kilbeg 6 consisted of a sizeable mound, c. 23m by c. 13m, which comprised chiefly burnt and heat-shattered stones mixed with charcoal-rich soil. A smaller spread was recorded (c. 4m by c. 5m) close to the edge of the site.
On removal of the spreads, a number of cut features were identified and excavated, one of which was identified as a trough. This trough was lined along its base with oak planking. The other features consisted of various possible pits or smaller troughs. A large number of cut archaeological features were identified, which were not sealed by the burnt spreads. Again these appear to comprise a number of pits, possible troughs and a small number of stake-holes. No finds were located during the excavation of Kilbeg 6.
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.
