2019:707 - Ardcurley 1, Sligo

An archaeological excavation was carried out at the site of Ardcurley 1 in advance of construction of the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin Road Development Scheme in Co. Sligo between 11 and 18 April 2019.
The excavation was carried out under Ministerial Direction No. A071 and Registration No. E005047 on behalf Roadbridge by Colum Hardy and James McKee of Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) Ltd.
The site was discovered during testing (Reg No. E005036) undertaken by AMS in 2019 towards the northern end of the N4 Road Scheme in the townland of Ardcurley.
The archaeological remains at Ardcurley 1 consisted of a burnt mound with an associated trough, two burnt spreads and six pits. A modern drain was also identified extending across the site and cutting through the burnt mound and trough from north-east to south-west.

Burnt Mound and Trough
The burnt mound, located in the northern section of the site, comprised a single deposit of heat-shattered stones in a charcoal-enriched soil matrix which was sub-oval shaped in plan and had a maximum depth of 0.18m. The mound was orientated north to south and measured 10.08m by 5.1m. It was directly underlying a topsoil layer and sealed an associated trough and a gley deposit. The trough, situated adjacent to a natural spring, contained a single fill and was sub-rectangular in plan. It was orientated east-north-east/west-south-west and measured 1.16m by 1.06m with a maximum depth of 0.32m. The trough, located mid-way along the western edge of the burnt mound, was cut into the natural subsoil, as well as through a thin gley deposit which underlay the burnt mound.

Burnt Spreads
Two burnt spreads were in evidence on site, situated to the south-south-west and south-west of the burnt mound. The first was located approximately 15m to the south-south-west of the mound with one pit located nearby. It comprised a single deposit of heat-shattered stones in a charcoal-enriched soil matrix. It had an amorphous irregular shape in plan and measured 2.81m by 2.24m with a maximum depth of 0.07m. The second burnt spread was located approximately 30m to the south-west of the mound with four pits close by. It consisted of two deposits of charcoal-enriched soil matrices only one of which contained heat-affected stones. It had an overall sub-rectangular shape in plan and measured 2.56m by 1.34m with a maximum depth of 0.12m.

Pits
Six pits were excavated at Ardcurley 1. As noted above, one was located in close proximity to the first burnt spread, four were located in close proximity to the second burnt spread and one pit was situated slightly further to the south roughly mid-way between the two burnt spreads.
Three of the pits (one close to the first burnt spread and two close to the second) were comparable in form and character and could possibly have functioned as cooking pits. All three were sub-oval shape in plan, oriented north-east to south-west and contained charcoal-rich fills incorporating frequent heat-cracked and shattered stone. The first pit contained three fills, measured 1.08m by 0.89m and was 0.42m deep. The second pit contained five fills and measured 1.54m by 1.24m by 0.54m in depth, while the third contained two fills and measured 1.25m by 1.1m with a depth of 0.48m.
Two smaller adjoining pits were located near to the second burnt spread. Each contained a single fill which were indistinguishable from each other. The larger of the two pits was sub-circular in plan and measured 0.44m by 0.41m with a depth of 0.21m, while the smaller pit was sub-oval in plan and measured 0.3m by 0.21m with a depth of 0.14m.
The final pit located further to the south mid-way between the two burnt spreads was irregularly shaped in plan and measured 1.7m by 1.4m with a maximum depth of 0.22m. It had gently sloping sides with a concave base and contained five fills, one of which produced prehistoric finds.

Finds
The only finds recovered from Ardcurley 1 came from the ‘isolated’ pit. These included a flint flake and five sherds of prehistoric pottery.

The archaeological remains at Ardcurley 1 most likely date to the Bronze Age or possibly the Iron Age. However, post-excavation analysis is ongoing, including radiocarbon dating, specialist analysis of environmental remains and finds as well as comparative research, which will hopefully further enhance our understanding of the site and provide a date for the activity. A final report incorporating the results of this analysis is due to be completed in June 2021.

Archaeological Management Solutions Ltd., Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare, V15 C780