2009:408 - LECARROWKILLEEN, Mayo

In February 2009 testing was carried out on the site of a proposed housing development in the townland of Lecarrowkilleen, The Neale, Co. Mayo. Initial assessment of the site was followed by geophysical surveying in 2008. The geophysics indicated a number of areas of potential archaeological significance, which were subsequently tested. Ten trenches were excavated throughout the site revealing a number of features. A test-trench excavated close to the wall of the Neale Church graveyard uncovered the lower limbs of a human burial. Other finds included two stone-lined drains and three burnt spreads. It was recommended that topsoil-stripping of the site be undertaken to record the extent of the archaeological material. Monitoring of topsoil-stripping was undertaken in September 2009. The results of the monitoring revealed a total of six burnt mounds and two burnt spreads in the area of the proposed development. In addition a concentration of pits and associated features in the south of the site and further pits in the north confirmed the archaeological significance of the area.
In the south-east a burnt spread (F1) was uncovered directly below the sod. The spread as revealed measured 6m north–south by 4.3m and appears to be 0.2–0.3m deep. It consisted of small angular burnt stones and occasional charcoal fragments which were visible on the surface of the spread.
F2 is U-shaped in plan with the open end facing west. It measures 10.2m north–south by 7.8m and is
c. 0.7–1m in height. It consists of small and medium-sized angular burnt stones with charcoal throughout. No trough feature is immediately apparent but would be likely to be located to the west. Four metres northwest of F2 another burnt mound was uncovered directly below the sod. It measures 6m north–south by 4.5m and consists of a low mound c. 0.5m high with frequent burnt stone and charcoal throughout. F4 consisted of numerous separate features concentrated in one area. These features included a roughly U-shaped charcoal-enriched cut and numerous pits of circular, subcircular and irregular shape with stone and charcoal evident in the surface. All of these features are found cut into the boulder clay at a depth of c. 0.3m below ground level.
F5 was a small spread of burnt stones located at the north boundary of the field. Located directly below topsoil, it extended for a length of 7m east–west by 2.3m. The spread consisted of small angular burnt stones and occasional charcoal fragments.
F6–9 are burnt mounds. F6 was identified during geophysical surveying and testing. Further stripping of this mound was not undertaken during this phase of work. The mound extends c. 17m east–west by 12–13m. The three mounds F7–9 were found close together in the lowest level of the field. The first (F7) is located 10.5m east of F6 and consists of a subcircular mound measuring 11m north–south by 7.5m. The mound is made up of heat-shattered stones and moderate charcoal inclusions except in the west, where there is a concentration of charcoal. Five metres east of this mound another burnt mound was revealed directly below topsoil (F8). Comprising two terminals with the open area facing east, this mound measures 9m north-west/south-east by 7.5m. The terminal in the west has frequent charcoal inclusions throughout. The third mound/spread (F9) is located 5m to the south of F8 and is roughly subcircular, measuring 8m by 7m. Unlike the other two mounds, which are surrounded by bedrock, this feature has a sticky marl in the south, south-west and south-east with bedrock in the north, north-east and north-west.

It too consists of medium-sized, heat-shattered, angular stones with moderate charcoal inclusions visible on the surface. All of the three features identified in this area range between 0.3m and 0.6m in height. No visible trough feature is associated with any of the mounds.