County: Westmeath Site name: Williamstown 2
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A016/086; E2704
Author: Ed Lyne, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 613083m, N 738305m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.394746, -7.803295
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 Yvonne Whitty, IAC Ltd, in August 2005 (A016/029). The site was excavated in April 2006. An excavation area measuring 20m by 15m was opened.
Williamstown 2 consisted of a spread of burnt stones and charcoal-rich soil spread over an area of c. 11m by c. 9m, situated on sloping ground on the south side of a small gravelly hill. In form and material the spread appears to fall into the category of a burnt-mound site. On removal of the spread a number of cut features were identified. Two of these appeared to be possible troughs.
A number of stake-holes were excavated on site, generally associated with the larger cut features. Associated with one of the troughs were six stake-holes, found at the north-east corner of the trough. The stake-holes varied from 0.09m to 0.18m deep and were generally 0.06–0.09m in diameter. Located at the south-west corner of the same trough were another six stake-holes. These measured 0.12–0.14m in depth and were 0.05–0.07m in diameter. Taken in conjunction, it would appear that these stake-holes must have been associated with the trough feature in some way, perhaps to hold some sort of lining of wood or leather in place. No finds were recovered during the course of 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.
