2016:506 - Aghadrinagh 2, Mayo

The remains of a disturbed burnt mound (F001) were exposed beneath the sod and topsoil (F032) at a depth of 0.4m. It measured 10m in length, 6m in width and 0.2m in thickness and consisted of a compact mid brown – black silty clay containing occasional inclusions of burnt sandstone and charcoal flecks and had been disturbed by a number of post-medieval field drains (F002) and furrows (F004). One spread (F027), a slot trench (F008), one trough (F005) and ten possible post-/stake-holes (F010, F012a-c, F014a-b, F016a-c, F018, F020, F022a-b, F024a-c, F026 & F029) were exposed beneath the burnt spread.

A slot trench (F008) was exposed 1m south-west of the trough F005. It was orientated north-west/south-east, measured 0.81m in length, 0.25m in width and 0.08m in depth and had been filled with a moderately compact grey silty clay containing occasional inclusions of small stones (F007). The spread (F027) measured 0.38m in length, 0.2m in width and 0.08m in thickness and consisted of a soft grey – black coloured silty clay containing occasional inclusions of charcoal. The trough (F005) was sub-rectangular in shape and measured 2.7m in length, 1.5m in width and 0.52m in depth and had been filled with a compact grey silty clay (F006) containing moderate to frequent inclusions of charcoal and heat-shattered angular stone. It lay above a thin deposit of mid-brown sand (F030) which measured 0.01m in thickness. A single upstanding stone measuring 0.4m in height by 0.08m in width was visible along the southern edge of the trough and may be the remains of stone lining at the end of the trough. Ten possible post- or stake-holes (F010, F012a-c, F014a-b, F016a-c, F018, F020, F022a-b, F024a-c, F026 & F029) were exposed below the burnt spread (F001) at the southern edge of the trough which may represent the site of a temporary structure, possibly a sweat house, associated with the trough.

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