2011:535 - BALLYDOOGAN/DERRYDARRAGH OR OAKFIELD/MAGHERABOY/CALTRAGH, Sligo

Stage (i) test-trenching and Stage (ii) pre-excavation services were carried out between 3 and 11 November 2011 along the route of the current phase of the Sligo Western Distributor Road on behalf of Sligo County Council. A total of 128 test trenches were excavated across seventeen fields, with a total of ten archaeological sites identified.

Ballydoogan 1
The site consisted of three subcircular pits measuring on average 0.88m in length by 0.59m in width by 0.15m deep and containing single fills. The identified fills were similar in composition, consisting of mixed grey silty clay with inclusions of decayed stone, occasional subrounded stones, charcoal flecks and occasional pieces of burnt clay. A number of sherds of prehistoric pottery were recovered from two of the identified pits. A post-medieval boundary ditch was identified to the west of the pits.

Ballydoogan 2
The site consisted of four pits, a shallow spread and a burnt mound. The four pits measured (on average) 0.76m in length by 0.56m in width by a maximum of 0.12m in depth and contained single fills. The identified fills were similar in composition, consisting of mottled mid-brown-grey silty clay, with occasional large stones noted in one of the pits. One of the pits was filled by black, charcoal-rich silty clay with heat-shattered stone.
A subrectangular spread to the south of the above-mentioned pits consisted of a moderately compact deposit of black-brown peaty clay with heat-shattered stone. It measured 5.4m in length by 1.3m in width by 0.04m deep.
A burnt mound was identified to the west of the identified pits and spread. It appeared as a low, subcircular mound of black, charcoal-rich peaty clay with heat-shattered stone. It measured 8.5m east–west by 5.3m by 0.15m in depth.

Derrydarragh/Oakfield 1
The site consisted of a burnt mound, a post-medieval ditch and a possible pit. The identified burnt mound was located centrally within the stripped site. It consisted of a subcircular mound of black, charcoal-rich silty clay with moderate inclusions of heat-shattered stone. It measured 10m in length north–south by 7m in width by 0.15m in depth (where tested).
A post-medieval boundary ditch was identified to the east of the burnt mound, running parallel to the existing field boundary. Aligned north-north-east/south-south-west, it was linear in plan with a concave profile and measured in excess of 25m in length by 1.6m in width. It was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. The base was not reached. It was filled by grey-brown silty clay. Nineteenth-century ceramics were noted within the fill.
A possible pit to the south of the burnt mound measured 1.7m north–south by 1.7m by 0.15 m deep. It had a single fill, mid-brown sandy clay with frequent inclusions of angular stone.

Derrydarragh/Oakfield 2
The site consisted of a trough or roasting pit, a charcoal-production pit, two additional pits and one possible post-hole. The possible trough or roasting pit, most likely associated with a prehistoric fulacht fiadh, was identified in the north-west corner of the site. It was circular in plan with a concave profile and measured 1.2m in diameter by 0.11m deep. It had a single fill, comprising black, charcoal-rich silty clay with occasional inclusions of heat-shattered stone.
A charcoal-production pit to the south-east of the trough/roasting pit was subcircular in plan, was aligned north–south and had a concave profile. It measured 1.9m in length by 1.5m in width by 0.06m in depth (where tested) and was filled by black, charcoal-rich silt.
The additional pits were subcircular in plan, aligned north–south, and on average measured 1.36m in length by 0.86m in width and 0.19m and 0.03m in depth respectively. They contained single fills. The identified fills were similar in composition, consisting of mid-grey silty clay with charcoal flecks.
A possible post-hole was identified to the east of the charcoal-production pit. Circular in plan with a concave profile, it measured 0.54m in length by 0.5m in width by 0.08m in depth. It had a single fill comprised of mid-grey-brown silty clay.

Derrydarragh/Oakfield 3
The site consisted of a charcoal-production pit. It was subrectangular in plan, measured 3.5m north–south by 1.3m by 0.12m deep and had two fills. The basal fill comprised a layer of black, charcoal-rich silty clay and the upper fill was a light grey silty clay.

Derrydarragh/Oakfield 4
The site consisted of a charcoal-production pit. It was subrectangular in plan, measuring 2.9m north-east/south-west by 1m in width by 0.12m deep. Two fills were identified within the pit; the basal fill comprised a layer of black charcoal and the upper fill consisted of light grey silty clay with charcoal flecks.

Derrydarragh/Oakfield 5
The site consisted of one charcoal-production pit and two linear features. The pit was subcircular in plan, aligned north–south and measuring 0.76m in length by 0.65m in width by 0.1m deep. It had two distinct fills; a layer of charcoal lined the base of the pit, while the secondary fill consisted of light brown silty clay of moderate compaction.
A linear feature thought to represent a plough furrow truncated the upper fill of the charcoal-production pit. It was aligned north–south and measured 1.22m in length (within the exposed area) by 0.24m in width by 0.03m in depth. It had a single fill, consisting of light brown stony silty clay.
A second linear feature, thought to represent a drainage ditch, was identified 5.5m to the north-east of the plough furrow. Linear in plan, with a concave profile, it ran north–south and measured 1.22m in exposed length by 0.62m in width by 0.5m in depth. It had a single fill, consisting of mid-grey-brown silty clay.

Derrydarragh/Oakfield 6
The site consisted of a charcoal-production pit and three plough furrows. The pit was subrectangular in plan, measuring 2m east–west in length by 1m in width by 0.28m in depth, and had three separate and distinct fills. The basal fill consisted of orange-brown sandy clay with frequent inclusions of charcoal. The secondary fill consisted of a layer of charcoal lining the base of the feature. The upper fill consisted of mid-grey silty clay and was truncated by three plough furrows ranging from 0.27m to 0.75m in width and measuring 0.05m in depth.

Derrydarragh/Oakfield 7
The site consisted of one pit of undetermined function and date. It was circular in plan, measuring 0.6m in diameter by 0.2m in depth. Its single fill consisted of mid-brown-grey silty clay. No finds or diagnostic material were uncovered during the investigation.

Magheraboy 1
The site consisted of a burnt mound/possible trough and four pits. The identified burnt mound or possible trough was located centrally within the site and consisted of a large, irregular-shaped pit aligned east–west. It measured 3m in length by 2.3m in width by 0.3m in maximum depth and had two separate and distinct fills. The basal fill consisted of firmly compacted dark black peaty clay with inclusions of heat-shattered stone, while the secondary fill consisted of firmly compact brown peaty silt.
Four pits were identified in the vicinity of the burnt mound/possible trough. Three were subcircular in plan and the fourth was irregularly shaped. They measured (on average) 1.19m in length by 0.93m in width. An exploratory sondage excavated through the fill of two of the identified pits revealed a maximum depth of 0.2m. The pits contained single fills. The identified fills were similar in composition, consisting of black-brown peaty clay; occasional large stones and heat-shattered stone were noted within the fills of two of the pits.

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