2009:834 - MULLINGAR AND ROBINSTOWN (TYRRELL), Westmeath

Archaeological excavation of a fulachta fiadh and burnt mound was carried out in the neighbouring townlands of Mullingar and Robinstown (Tyrrell), Co. Westmeath. The sites were identified during the monitoring programme carried out along Section 6, Contract 2, of the Mullingar sewerage improvement scheme (see No. 832 above, 08E519). The identified areas were cordoned off and separate excavations were carried out from 20 to 24 April and 18 to 23 June 2009 respectively.

Site 1: Mullingar, NGR 244013 253969
The site was located in the townland of Mullingar, on relatively flat ground, directly south of a small tributary of the River Brosna, which borders the townlands of Mullingar and Robinstown (Tyrrell) to the north. Natural subsoil consisted of alternating layers of orange/grey medium-sized sandy gravel overlying compact grey/yellow marly clay. The sandy gravel was most prominent towards the north of the site in the vicinity of the tributary stream. The area of excavation measured 70m north-east/southwest by 20m.
The burnt-mound material extended roughly east–west across the centre-line of the proposed interceptor sewerage pipeline and measured 8.24m east–west by 5.2m in width by 0.3m deep. A deposit of burnt bone – not confined within a cut – was identified within the mound material. Analysis of the burnt-mound material in this location found that it contained 215 fragments (80.2g) of cremated adult human bone, which is clearly an under-representation of a complete cremation of an adult human body and suggests that the remains are derived from a disturbed and truncated burial (J. Geber, pers. comm.).
The burnt-mound material sealed a trough and six stake-holes. Trough F4 was located towards the southern end of the site. Orientated east–west, trapezoidal in plan, it measured 1.9m in length by 1.6m in width by 0.3m deep. Three fills were identified within the trough. The basal fill consisted of moist black slightly silty clay of loose compaction with moderate inclusions of heat-affected fractured limestone and sandstone gravel. The secondary fill comprised moist loosely compacted dark-brown silty clayey peat with frequent angular stones and charcoal, and measured 1.6m in length by 1.6m width by 0.25m in depth. The tertiary fill, a lens of the surrounding alluvial deposit that had accumulated within the shallow depression of the backfilled trough, consisted of sterile mid-orange/brown silty clay of moderate compaction with occasional water-rolled stones. It measured 1.3m in length and width by 0.05m in depth. Six stake-holes, with an average diameter of 65mm, were identified within the trough. Four were located in the respective corners of the trough with two more located near the eastern and western edges of the trough, producing a broad symmetry. The stake-holes were filled with black/grey peaty clay with charcoal flecks.
No finds or animal bone were recovered from the respective fills of the trough or burnt-mound material but samples have been taken for environmental analysis and are awaiting radiocarbon-dating.
Site 2: Robinstown Tyrrell, NGR 243603 253924
The site was located in the townland of Robinstown (Tyrrell), along the north-eastern section of the pipeline corridor, on relatively flat ground directly south-west of a small tributary of the River Brosna that defines the townlands of Mullingar and Robinstown (Tyrrell). Prior to the current development, the burnt mound was situated underneath the topsoil horizon of a large low-lying rectangular field. The northern extent of the burnt mound had been truncated by a realignment of a tributary of the River Brosna. Natural subsoil consisted of dark-grey marly clay with occasional stones. The area of excavation measured 20m northwest/south-east by 5m.
The site consisted of a single phase of activity comprised of burnt-mound material, which was composed of a single homogenous deposit: a moist black stony silty clay of moderate to friable compaction with frequent inclusions of fire-cracked sandstone, burnt limestone and charcoal. It measured 8.2m in length, 3m in width and 0.18m in depth. No additional archaeological features, soils, deposits or finds were identified during the excavation but samples of the mound material have been taken for environmental analysis and are awaiting radiocarbon-dating.