2016:583 - DEERPARK EAST (4), Mayo

A burnt stone spread measuring 20m by 10m with a depth of 0.75m was identified at Deerpark East 4. The spread appeared to continue below the existing N59 and was disturbed by a sewer, a water main, and ESB ducting. A stone-lined trough was exposed below the eastern extent of the mound. It measured 1.6m by 1m with a depth of 0.15m. A second timber-lined trough and a number of timbers laid longitudinally may be representative of water management of a natural stream bed/lake below the spread. Two intact perforated beads and a third broken one were recovered from below a redeposited layer of natural derived material. These were very similar to ones found nearby at a Neolithic site Gortaroe II (01E1042) by Richard Gillespie. A total of 19 soils samples were taken and timber from the trough was also sampled. Radiocarbon analysis of any charcoal present should provide a date range for the use of this site.