2010:184 - CRANNY LOWER/DRUMDUFF/MULLANBOYS/DRUMBEAGH/DRUMCONOR/MOUNTCHARLES, Donegal

Testing was undertaken in advance of the N56 Mountcharles to Inver road scheme, Co. Donegal. The work was untaken on behalf of Donegal County Council and it took place between 28 October and 11 November 2010.

A total of 10,377 linear metres were excavated within the eleven areas to be tested (Areas 1–11). One archaeological site was discovered during the course of the works. Mountcharles 1 comprised a small burnt mound and two small burnt spreads.

Mountcharles 1 was located on the top of a south-facing slope under rough pasture. It comprised three spreads of burnt-mound-type material. The largest of these, C3, was a 0.5m in depth, roughly oval-shaped, mounded deposit of charcoal-rich silty clay with frequent heat-shattered stone which measured 3m north–south by 1.8m. Two metres to the west was C4, a subcircular deposit of similar composition, measuring 1.8m east–west by 1.6m; where sectioned, this was 0.2m in depth. The third deposit of material was located 2m to the north again and was of a similar composition. C5 was a subcircular deposit, measuring 0.8m in diameter and 0.1m in depth. A charcoal-rich soil sample was taken from C3 for dating purposes. The site is confined to an area measuring approximately 8m x 10m, which was confirmed by the opening of a 10m x 12m area in which no further archaeological features were noted.