County: Westmeath Site name: Kilbeggan South
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A016/083; E3282
Author: Tim Coughlan, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 633335m, N 734338m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.358205, -7.499223
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 April 2006. An excavation area measuring 25m by 20m was opened.
The site consisted of a small burnt spread adjacent to a modern farm building. The spread of burnt material contained fragments of modern glass, etc., at its upper level. One significant feature was recorded, C213.1, a pit with a diameter of 2.2m; however, the fills of the pit were not consistent with those normally found in troughs associated with burnt mounds; they appeared modern but are undated.
The interpretation of whether this site is archaeologically significant is dependent on the analysis of a metal object – a possible axehead found in the fill of the large pit feature – as well as the results of radiocarbon dating. The site may have been disturbed by recent activity associated with the farm buildings or they may be directly associated.
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.
