County: Sligo Site name: Tawnagh 4
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E4795; Ministerial Direction No.: A071
Author: Lydia Cagney
Site type: Charcoal-production pit
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 574370m, N 816605m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.097891, -8.391837
Stage (iii) archaeological excavation was carried out at Tawnagh 4 in advance of the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin Road Development, Co. Sligo. The site was discovered during Stage (i) archaeological testing and was assessed during Stage (ii) Pre-Excavation Services (Registration Number E4627).
The excavation at Tawnagh 4 recorded the remains of a possible charcoal-production pit.
Its five fills were consistent with those generally associated with this type of pit kiln. A black, charcoal deposit forming the basal layer probably represented the charred remains of stacks of wood laid horizontally within the cut. This was partially overlain by a grey, charcoal-rich deposit, the discontinuous nature of which may signify a re-cut at this location. This may suggest an attempt at cleaning out the pit, thus making it suitable for re-use. The upper deposits were similar to those filling the charcoal-production pit at Tawnagh 3 (E004794), evident in a grey, ash-rich deposit, indicative of overlying vegetation mixed with soil, which was sealed by an episode of deliberate back-filling to extinguish the underlying smouldering material once its use was complete, in contrast to the pit excavated at Tawnagh 3 (E004794).
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