2009:102 - MONREAGH 3, Clare

Excavation of a burnt mound at the site of Monreagh 3 along the proposed N18 Gort to Crusheen road scheme was funded by Galway County Council and the National Roads Authority (NRA).
Monreagh 3 consisted of two areas of archaeological activity dated to the early and late Bronze Age periods. The earlier site dated to 1871–1665 BC (2 sigma calibration: UBA12756) and was a disturbed burnt mound on the southern edge of the Scarriff stream. The mound occupied a hollow which may once have been a trough. Charcoal from the mound indicated that the site was surrounded by primary woodland comprising a combination of oak/ash/elm with a hazel under-storey. The mound was composed of sandstone and quartzite, which is a typical stone type expected from a burnt mound or trough. Sandstone is a coarse rock type and absorbs heat well and repeatedly before fracturing or shattering. No animal bone was retrieved from the material excavated at the site and there was nothing to indicate a precise function for the site.
A second area of activity was identified c. 60m to the south and consisted of one large rectangular pit or trough surrounded by the remnants of a burnt mound. This site dated to 925–802 BC (2 sigma calibration: UBA 12757). The heat-shattered stone from the trough and the mound was burnt limestone and, in the light of any other evidence to suggest a use, may indicate that the trough was used for tanning or a similar industrial function. The charcoal assemblage indicates that the site was surrounded by primary woodland comprising a combination of oak and ash with a hazel and scrub under-storey.