County: Sligo Site name: Drumderry 9
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E005057, (Ministerial Direction No.: A071)
Author: Colum Hardy
Site type: Burnt mound deposit
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 575070m, N 815562m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.088553, -8.381049
An archaeological excavation was carried out at the site of Drumderry 9 in advance of construction of the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin Road Development Scheme in Co. Sligo.
The excavation was carried out on behalf of Roadbridge between 21 and 23 May 2019 by Colum Hardy and James McKee of Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) Ltd.
The site was identified during testing (Reg No. E005036) undertaken by AMS in 2019 at the southern end of the scheme in the townland of Drumderry.
The archaeological remains at Drumderry 9 consisted of a burnt mound deposit lying on natural subsoil. The deposit, comprising heat-shattered stones in a charcoal-enriched soil matrix, was irregular shaped in plan, measuring 7m by 4.4m with a maximum depth of 0.16m. A layer of peat which had a maximum depth of 0.4m sealed the burnt mound deposit. No artefacts were recovered.
The archaeological remains likely date 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 this site and provide a date for the remains. 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
