2018:772 - Claggarnagh West 7, Mayo

The site was identified during archaeological testing Stage (i) of the proposed N5 Westport to Turlough Road Project (A0069: E004621) undertaken by Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit in August 2018 as an addendum to testing undertaken in 2015. Due to very poor ground conditions the area was inaccessible when the main programme of test trenching was undertaken, but the dry weather in the summer of 2018 resulted in much improved conditions. The excavation was carried out from 5–6 December 2018.

An area measuring 265m² was stripped of topsoil and excavated at Claggarnagh West 7, confirming the presence of a spread of burnt stones (F03). It was located in a wet, boggy field, at the western base of an east–west ridge west of the Islandeady Road (L1811). It was exposed directly below the sod and lay above peat and marl. The spread comprised fire-cracked sandstone, charcoal-stained clay and charcoal. The exposed extent measured a maximum of 9m north-west/south-east by 3.6m and it survived to a height of 0.05m. The site was greatly disturbed and the burnt spread was cut to the east by a roadside drain and water main and to the north by an east–west field drain. No trough or any underlying features were identified and no finds were recovered.

A radiocarbon date was obtained from a sample of charcoal (0.3g) recovered from the burnt stone spread F03, which was identified by Dr Ellen O’Carroll as hazel. This returned an Early Bronze Age date of 2027–1828 cal. BC (3580±30 BP; Beta-518392). The site can be classified as a possible fulacht fiadh and similar sites are located in the vicinity. Claggarnagh West 7 was, for example, north of burnt stone spreads at Claggarnagh West 1–5. Thirty-five fulachtaí fiadh had been previously excavated on this scheme. An additional four were excavated during the current phase of works bringing the total to 39.

Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth