2016:398 - Knockaphunta, Mayo

An archaeological excavation at Knockaphunta, Castlebar, Co. Mayo took place over five days from the 22nd of February 2016 with a crew of three. The site was previously the subject of pre-development testing carried out by Mr. R. Crumlish in December 2015 (Licence No. 15E0384). These works involved the excavation (by machine) of 14 trenches across the development area; Trench J exposed a burnt spread (F1/C33) J below the topsoil (C31) and above the natural subsoil (C32). The subsequent report described the feature thus: ‘a low mound extending c. 2m to the E of the section exposed in Trench J (Illus. 5). The mound may extend 2.5-3.0m to the W of Trench J but it is barely visible and it is difficult to be certain’ The cutting was located in a field to the rear of the Mount Gordon housing development in a low-lying field that gradually slopes from north to south and breaks from rough pasture to bog. The excavation area measured 12m NNW/SSE by 12m WNW/SSE and was later extended by 3m (N) by 7m (E) at the NW corner. Prior to full excavation the site was divided into quadrants divided by a cross shaped baulk 500mm wide. The feature comprised a burnt mound 6.1m north south with a width varying from 2.5 to 3m. (C1) the surface layer was composed of rough grass over a spongy dark brown peat covering the entire site, this averaged 150mm in depth and contained no’s 11 modern finds including 6 sherds of modern pottery and a twentieth century clay pipe bowl stamped ‘Castlebar’. Below this near the centre of the cutting and covering the burnt mound proper (C3) was a sub circular mantle of blackened peat with a moderate amount of stone (C2). The frequency of stone in this layer decreased substantially radiating from the center. This blackened peat measured 8.3m N/S by 6.9m E/W and was 500mm deep. There were no finds recovered from this layer nor was there any charcoal fragments. Underlying (C2) was the burnt mound (C3) composed of a concentration of heat fractured sandstones averaging between 0.5-10mm in length in a sandy peat with very occasional charcoal fragments. (C3) was roughly kidney shaped and measured 6m N/S by between 2-3m in width by 300mm in depth. This layer contained no finds. The mound overlay a thin lens of peat (C5) on a natural, grey-white marl clay with sandstone gravels (C5). There was no evidence of a hearth or trough.

The results of the Radiocarbon analysis provided a date of 3061 ±33 BP (BP 1960 AD) coinciding with Ireland’s Middle Bronze Age (1500 BC to 1200BC).

The site was fully excavated to natural gravels.

Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services, 3 Gort na Rí, Athenry, Co. Galway