2012:535 - Magheraboy, Sligo

Excavation was undertaken at Magheraboy 1, Co. Sligo, on behalf of Sligo County Council. The works were undertaken as part of Stage (iii) of the Archaeological Services Contract prior to the commencement of construction of the Sligo Western Distributor Road which extends from Ballydoogan townland to Caltragh townland in Co. Sligo.
Stage (i) test trenching along the entire route and Stage (ii) stripping, cleaning and mapping of all areas of archaeological potential were carried out on behalf of Sligo County Council between 3 and 11 November 2011, under Licence 11E0372 (Excavations 2011, No. 535). The test excavations at Magheraboy 1 identified a fulacht fiadh.
Full excavation was undertaken at the site on 18 and 19 July 2011. The excavation revealed a Middle Bronze Age fulacht fiadh at Magheraboy 1 representing one phase of activity. The site comprised a burnt mound, trough, deposit, pit and two scarped depressions.
An informal flint scraper and an utilised natural chunk of chert were recovered form topsoil during the course of the excavation. Three soil samples retained from the excavation were processed for environmental data. The samples contained fragmented charcoal and charred hazelnut shell, however botanical remains associated with arable farming were absent from the assemblage. Seven wood species were recorded from charcoal samples. A mixed wood assemblage was recorded dominated by hazel (Corylus avellana) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). A lower occurrence of oak (Quercus sp.), willow (Salix sp.), birch (Betula sp.), alder (Alnus glutinosa) and Prunus sp. (cherry-type) were also identified.
One radiocarbon date was obtained from the fill of the trough. This dated to the Middle Bronze Age 1381-1130 cal. BC (2σ) (SUERC 42975).

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