2019:709 - Carrownagark 10, Sligo

An archaeological excavation was carried out at the site of Carrownagark 10 in advance of construction of the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin Road Development Scheme in Co. Sligo.
The excavation was carried out between 23 May and 5 June 2019 by Colum Hardy and James McKee of Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) Ltd. on behalf Roadbridge.
The site was discovered during testing (Reg No. E005036) undertaken by AMS in 2019 in the central section of the N4 Road Scheme in the townland of Carrownagark.
The archaeological remains at Carrownagark 10 consisted of a burnt mound overlying a peat deposit and sealed by a clay deposit. The mound comprised a single deposit of heat-shattered stones in a charcoal-enriched soil matrix, which was irregular shaped in plan and had a maximum depth of 0.5m. The deposit continued beyond the limit of excavation with maximum exposed horizon dimensions of 9.6m (north-west/south-east) by 7m. No features were revealed beneath the burnt mound. A single deposit of silty clay overlay and sealed the burnt mound. This deposit was 8.3m in length (north-south), 7m in width extending beyond the limit of excavation and 0.38m in depth.
Three lithics were recovered from Carrownagark 10 – a flint flake within the burnt mound deposit and two flint blades in the underlying peat.
The burnt mound most likely dates to the Bronze Age or the Iron Age. However, post-excavation analysis is ongoing, including radiocarbon dating, specialist analysis of environmental remains and comparative research, which will hopefully further enhance our understanding of the remains and provide a date for the site. 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