County: Mayo Site name: Drumaleheen 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E004718
Author: Siobhan McNamara
Site type: Circular structure
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 517137m, N 789775m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.850827, -9.259382
A possible cremation pit measuring 1m by 0.56m by 0.12m in depth was identified during testing at Drumaleheen 3. Both bone and charcoal were recovered from the fill of this feature. The excavation phase exposed both the pit and beside it a circular structure/feature. This comprised a circular slot trench filled with clay and charcoal. The slot trench (F3) enclosed a roughly circular area measuring 6.6m east-west by 6.3m. The trench itself varied in width from 0.39m to a maximum of 0.87m and its depth varied from 0.12m to 0.15m. It had concave sides and base. The structure may represent a circular house or a ploughed-out barrow/ring ditch. Six soil and environmental samples were taken from the fill of the slot trench/ditch. A radiocarbon date of AD 1483-1646 was returned from the charcoal obtained from the pit identified during testing. Further radiocarbon analysis of charcoal present should confirm a date range for the use of this structure. No finds were recovered from the archaeological features.
Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth
