2008:097 - Putiaghan Upper 1, Cavan

Excavation took place in February–March 2008 along the route of the proposed N3 Butlersbridge to Belturbet road improvement scheme for Cavan County Council and the National Roads Authority. The site was located on the crest of a hill overlooking the River Erne to the west, Putiaghan Lough to the east and Bun 4 (see No. 84 above) to the south. The site contained fulacht fiadh-type features and it was located on top of a hill rather than a typical low-lying waterlogged area. The features excavated consisted of a large burnt spread as well as a number of wells/troughs and pits.
The main features of the site were a burnt-stone spread that covered three distinct troughs/wells and an area to the north of these of up to four recut troughs/wells. The burnt-stone spread was roughly circular, on average 13m in diameter and 0.01–0.14m in depth. A number of small pits/post-holes were excavated under the spread. The three troughs were covered by the burnt spread, were aligned east–west and were situated close together. The largest and westernmost of the troughs was 1.8m in diameter and 0.6m in depth. This trough had what appeared to be the remains of a stone lining on the base under its primary fill. The second trough measured 1.5m by 1.4m by 0.42m. This trough had a vaguely figure-of-eight shape in plan, with a uniform base and fills. The easternmost trough measured 1.6m in diameter by 0.49m deep. This trough was circular and associated with a possible post-hole that truncated the lower fill of the trough at its southern edge. The angle of the post-hole would suggest that the post was not upright but slightly slanted, pointing northwards.
Ten narrow and shallow linear cuts were concentrated around the troughs. The linear cuts were filled with the same material as the burnt spread. They ran north–south and parallel with each other. They probably represent the lower tips of post-medieval ploughmarks which disturbed the heat-shattered stone and charcoal-rich fills of the troughs and the spread. Four intercutting troughs/wells were not covered by the burnt spread and were located to the north. The spread of heat-shattered stone and charcoal-rich material and trough features are evidence of burnt-mound activity and are likely to be Bronze Age in date.