County: Sligo Site name: Carrownagark 7
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E004814; Ministerial Direction No.: A071
Author: Brian O'Hara
Site type: Charcoal-production pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 571777m, N 818582m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.115520, -8.431662
Stage (iii) archaeological excavation was carried out at Carrownagark 7 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 Carrownagark 7 recorded the remains of two pits. A moderately deep sub-oval pit with a charcoal-rich fill layer at the base was sealed by a mid-grey fill that could represent an ash layer from a fire. In-situ oxidised clay present at the base of this pit backs up this argument. The presence of large chunks of charcoal within the basal layer suggests that this pit was possibly for charcoal production.
The second feature was a moderately deep oval pit. There was no oxidised clay present and it was primarily filled by a charcoal-rich layer.
Brian O'Hara, c/o IAC Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
