2013:413 - Carrowbeg (Fergus)/Carrowsallagh/Gortfahy/Keeloges (ED Newport East)/Derradda/Knockalegan/Kiltarnaght/Cahergal/Derryloughan More/Knockychottaun/Drumard/Conrea/Corragaun/Gortawarla/Clooneen/Knocknaboley/Rossdooaun/Rossow, Mayo

Pre-development testing was carried out on the N59 Rossow Bends Roads Scheme: Part of the overall N59 Westport-Mallaranny Road Realignment Project. Test excavations were carried out in green field areas that are within the footprint of the proposed N59 Rossow Bends Section and also within seventeen proposed areas for the recovery of material excavated during the construction of the road that is unsuitable for reuse.

The stratigraphy of the test areas ranged from light, well-drained sandy topsoil on the large drumlin within the footprint of the road, to pockets of low-lying waterlogged peat, also within the footprint of the road and in the Proposed Recovery areas.

A total of ten archaeological sites were identified by these test excavations. All were identified within the Proposed Recovery Areas. Three of these sites are located in peripheral areas and preservation in situ is proposed. Disturbed material from a fourth site in Carrowbeg (Fergus) was identified, however there is no predicted impact on this site.

A burnt spread (Drumard 1), four fulachta fiadh (Drumard 2-4 and Keeloges 1) and two conjoined pits (Keeloges 2) were identified in Drumard and Keeloges townlands. As these sites will be directly impacted on by the development, a programme of excavation is scheduled for 2014.

 

Drumard Townland (Recovery Area No. 28)

Four archaeological sites are located in this Recovery Area adjacent to the current N59, 3km north of Westport, Co. Mayo. Sites Drumard 1-4 are located in a wet, peaty hollow between a modern house, which is on raised ground, and the existing main road.

 

Drumard 1, burnt spread (NGR: 498091 787722), consists of a deposit of burnt stone and charcoal, roughly circular in plan with a diameter of 4m and a thickness of 0.1m where cut at the northern edge and has a maximum thickness of 0.2m. The deposit consists of angular heat-fractured stone in a charcoal-rich matrix. The stones are generally light grey sandstone c. 0.08m in diameter with frequent smaller stones and grit and occasional larger stones up to 0.2m in diameter. A broken flint disc scraper was recovered from the top of the stone deposit. This site is scheduled for excavation in 2014 under licence 14E0031.

 

Drumard 2, fulacht fiadh (NGR: 498269 787601), is located near the southern field boundary and appears to be an undisturbed site. The mound, consisting of heat-fractured stone in a charcoal-rich peaty matrix, is oval in plan measuring 6m by 8m with a maximum thickness of 0.6m. There is a large hollow in its northern half (1.7m by 3.2m) creating a classic crescent-shaped mound. The hollow may overlie an intact trough. This site is scheduled for excavation in 2014 under licence 14E0032.

 

Drumard 3, fulacht fiadh (NGR: 498218 787629), is located to the south of the centre of the field on peat, adjacent to a large land drain. The mound, consisting of heat-fractured stone in a charcoal-rich peaty matrix, is roughly circular in plan with a diameter of 9m and a maximum thickness of 0.7m. The northern extremity of the mound was cut by the land drain. This site is scheduled for excavation in 2014 under licence 14E0033.

 

Drumard 4, fulacht fiadh (NGR 498188 787624), is located on the subsoil, 10m north of Drumard 3, at a depth of c. 0.7m from the surface overlain by peat. It consists of a 0.1m thick (max.) spread of burnt stone and charcoal which is circular in plan with a diameter of 5m. An isolated wood feature was located adjacent to this spread c. 0.35m higher in the peat and 2m to the north. It consists of a number of poorly preserved horizontal roundwoods placed parallel to each other possibly forming a wooden platform or trough base. At least one of these timbers was cut and retains distinctive chop-marks. The surviving feature measures 1.8m north-south by 0.9m. This site is scheduled for excavation in 2014 under licence 14E0034.

 

Keeloges (ED Newport East), (Recovery Area No. 12)

Two archaeological sites are located in a Recovery Area adjacent to the current N59, 5km west of Newport. Sites Keeloges 1-2 are located on relatively dry ground within a field which is predominantly comprised of wet peat.

 

Keeloges 1, fulacht fiadh (NGR: 494766 795749), is located on the eastern end of low glacial ridge immediately adjacent to lower lying marshy ground. The in situ remains of a mound of burnt stone and charcoal rest directly on firm, relatively dry boulder clay with the eastern side (c. 2m) resting on low-lying marshy ground, The mound is roughly oval in plan measuring 21m north-south by 12m. The in situ mound material is generally less than 0.2m thick reaching up to 0.6m thick where the natural subsoil slopes down to the south-east. The western side of the site is delimited by a substantial drain and the overlying topsoil contained frequent displaced burnt stones and modern pottery. This site is scheduled for excavation in 2014 under licence 14E0035.

 

Keeloges 2, two pits/hearths abutting each other (NGR: 494794 795792), are located in a low-lying wet area adjacent to Keeloges 1. They consist of two roughly circular charcoal-rich deposits c. 0.8m in diameter, resting on or cut into the natural, stony boulder-clay. This site is scheduled for excavation in 2014 under licence 14E0036.

 

Four sites, to be preserved in situ, were identified in three recovery areas in Carrowsallagh, Conrea and Carrowbeg (Fergus) townlands.

 

Carrowsallagh I: fulacht fiadh (NGR: 4993181 796077)

A fulacht fiadh mound was identified in the south-east adjacent to and 10m from the river. This mound was located on sandy subsoil adjacent to the river. Its upper level was exposed for a length of 10.5m east-west and a 12m perpendicular trench was opened across the centre of the mound to establish its north-south dimensions which were 6.7m. The in situ remains consist of a low compact mound of burnt stone and charcoal, c. 0.4m (max.) above the surrounding subsoil falling away gradually from its centre. The upper levels of this mound are likely to have been disturbed by subsequent agriculture as heat-fractured stones were spread through the topsoil around and adjacent to the mound. The overlying sod and topsoil reached a maximum thickness of 0.4m and there were no surface indications of the underlying mound.

 

Carrowsallagh II: possible fulacht fiadh (NGR: 493100 796105)

Remains of a possible fulacht fiadh were located 70m to the west of Carrowsallagh I, also adjacent to the river which runs along the southern boundary of Recovery Area 7. This site consists of a low mound of burnt stone and fragments of charcoal, 4.5m north-south by 2.5m with a maximum thickness of 0.4m. Two patches of burning and a loose deposit of burnt stone occur adjacent to this mound.

 

Conrea I: burnt spread (NGR: 498342 787456)

A burnt spread was identified in the northern corner of this Recovery Area. It had a maximum diameter of 3.5m, occurred at a depth of 0.2m and was at least 0.1m thick forming a low mound and rested on the natural subsoil. This feature continued beyond the limit of excavation to the north-east. Further burnt stone was identified in the adjacent drain 7.5m to the north-east. This burnt spread may be the remains of a fulacht fiadh and it has been proposed for preservation in situ.

 

Carrowbeg (Fergus) I: disturbed burnt spread (NGR: 492700 796344)

Disturbed burnt stone similar to fulacht fiadh mound material was identified in the west of the area but no in situ remains were identified. This is indicative of a fulacht fiadh within or near the area which has been disturbed or destroyed. Topsoil was removed from this disturbed area prior to its acquisition by Mayo County Council and there is no predicted further archaeological impact.

 

Westport Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.