2015:095 - Dunaree, Kingscourt, Cavan

An excavation was carried out of a burnt mound spread within the townland of Dunaree, Kingscourt, County Cavan. The excavation has been carried out at a pre-planning stage in advance of construction of a new Post-Primary School on behalf of the client in order to mitigate any archaeological constraints in relation to the site. The surrounding landscape around the town of Kingscourt contains a high density of monuments, the majority of which are ringforts. County Cavan and its glacial drumlin landscape contain one of the highest concentrations of ringforts in Ireland. Since the production of the 1st Edition OS map the overall layout of the field systems that make up the proposed site have changed very little. However it was noted that the site may contain a track/road depicted on the Down Survey map of 1654 and more accurately on Taylor & Skinner’s road map of 1777 with the site of a possible bridge/crossing clearly indicated on the 1st Edition OS map. The historical significance of this bridge site and the track/road is that they may have been present on the site from before 1654 and may have provided access to the original Cabra Castle and the old village of Cabra. Assessment was carried out on 25 and 26 June 2015. Fourteen test trenches were excavated on the site in the area to be developed. The bridge and the track/road were located in the test trenches. The road consisted of a metalled surface c. 5m in width and corresponded with the location on the map. These were sufficiently recorded in the assessment report and required no further investigation. A previously unrecorded burnt mound spread was identified in Trench 4 measuring roughly 9m by 7m north-south. This burnt stone spread represents a fulacht fiadh, which generally date to the Bronze Age, and is located on a flat plateau, 10m east of a shallow stream. The ground is fairly level for another 15m to the east then gradually runs downhill to wet, boggy ground. To the north, the ground gradually rises. The burnt stone spread was cut by two field drains (C3 & C11). The spread was shallow and appeared to have been ploughed out or weathered. There was one pit associated with the spread and no trough was identified. In addition, a small ruinous building located in the north-east corner of the site may have been associated with the Cabra Castle Estate and though not listed as a Protected Structure in the County Development Plan, is shown on the 1st edition OS map (c. 1835). This structure was recorded by means of an architectural building survey. Locals mentioned that the McMahons and the McGivneys were the last people living in the house and worked as foresters for the Cabra Castle Estate.

Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth