2008:100 - Putiaghan Upper 4, Cavan

Excavation was carried out along the route of the proposed N3 Butlersbridge to Belturbet road improvement scheme for Cavan County Council and the National Roads Authority between 13 and 14 March 2008.
Excavation at Putiaghan Upper 4 revealed a series of deposits and recut pits. The features, with their heat-shattered stone and charcoal-rich fills, were typical of burnt-mound activity. Two spreads, a large recut pit and a smaller pit appended to it were excavated. The spread measured 1.1m by 1m by 0.07m. This spread was isolated and did not appear to have a direct relationship with any other feature. The second spread measured 2.65m by 0.1m by 1.5m. Both spreads consisted of heat-shattered stone and charcoal-rich material and were located in natural depressions overlying deposits of lacustrine silt. Upon excavation it was noted that the spreads overlay subsoil, with a high concentration of stone. The pits measured 2.2m by 2m by 0.7m and 1.6m by 1.4m by 0.4m, were cut into sandy subsoil and are more likely to represent roasting pits or pits for the burnt-stone material than troughs. It is presumed that these are related to fulacht fiadh/burnt-mound activity and date to the Bronze Age.