County: Mayo Site name: Claggarnagh East 6
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E004695.
Author: Siobhan McNamara
Site type: Possible iron-working site
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 508662m, N 786661m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.821431, -9.387224
This site was identified by an initial phase of testing in 2015 and geophysical survey had detected anomalies at this location. The site comprised a possible furnace, a pit and a number of oxidised and charcoal spreads. Oxidised soil was widespread across the site and it was heavily truncated by modern cultivation furrows. The feature (F10) that may represent a collapsed furnace was sub-oval in plan and measured 1.27m by 1.02m with a depth of 0.6m. It had an oxidised base and contained slag throughout its fill. The pit (F08) also had evidence of in-situ burning in its base. It was sub-rectangular in plan measuring 1.25m by 1.52m with a depth of 0.12m. Two small spreads containing charcoal were exposed further north. Subsequent ploughing disturbed the site and slag was recovered from furrows across the site.
Post-excavation analysis is ongoing for this site and it is hoped to obtain dating evidence from radiocarbon analysis of charcoal samples recovered.
Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth
