2014:070 - NEWPORT (Keeloges 1), Mayo

Keeloges 1 consisted of two Late Neolithic/Copper Age burnt spreads (004) and (005) and a trough (007). A Middle Bronze Age trough (006) and the remnants of an undated former timber platform (014) were also present. The final evaluation of the findings of the excavation indicates that the fulacht fiadh at Keeloges 1 most likely represents two phases of activity dating to the Late Neolithic/Copper Age and the Middle Bronze Age respectively. A fragment of willow charcoal taken from burnt spread material (005) returned a Late Neolithic/Copper Age date of 2456 – 2204 cal BC (2σ) (UBA-26942); a fragment of alder charcoal taken from burnt spread material (004) returned a Late Neolithic/Copper Age date of 2435 -2142 cal BC (2σ) (UBA-26943). A fragment of alder charcoal taken from the fill (010) of the trough (006) returned a Middle Bronze Age date (1608 – 1436 cal BC (2σ) (UBA-26944). The excavation was undertaken between 5 and 16 May 2014 in advance of the construction of the N59 Rossow Bends Scheme, Co. Mayo, which extends from Deerpark East townland located to the north of Westport, to Murrevagh townland to east of Mulranny village.