County: Roscommon Site name: Ballaghcullia 4
Sites and Monuments Record No.: NA Licence number: E5122
Author: Patrick Walsh
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 575404m, N 788415m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.844632, -8.373756
Ballaghcullia 4 was excavated in advance of construction of the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project in County Roscommon by Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) for Roscommon County Council (RCC) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The site was discovered during Stage (i)a Testing carried out by AMS under Ministerial Direction (No. A077, Registration No. E5070; Hardy 2021). The on-site Stage (iii) Excavation Services at Ballaghcullia 4 were undertaken between 4 and 14 February 2020.
The excavation revealed a mound of charcoal-rich soil and heat-shattered stone, a trough and two pits. The burnt mound was 7.64m long, 8m wide, 0.2m deep and composed of charcoal-rich soil and heat-shattered red sandstone.
The trough was sub-rectangular in plan, had vertical sides and a flat base, and was 1.3m long, 0.88m wide, 0.5m deep. It contained three fills: a basal fill of light-brownish grey sandy silt with frequent inclusions of charcoal—1.22m long, 0.78m wide, 0.1m deep—a secondary fill of black charcoal-rich clayey soil—1.3m long, 0.85m wide and 0.46m deep—and an upper fill of dark-black peaty silty clay, 2.06m long, 1m wide and 0.1m deep. A sample of hazel charcoal from the basal fill of the trough returned an Early Bronze Age date of 1883–1696 cal. BC (UBA-43750; 3474+27BP). Organic residue (lipid) analysis from a sample of stone from the secondary fill suggests the presence of vegetation-derived organic matter of a woody origin, possibly roots found in soil. Nine partially preserved stakes projected vertically from its base. These were arranged in lines at either end of its length, and probably served to hold a lining in place.
Two pits—2.02m long, 1.85m wide, 0.56m deep, and 1.94m long, 0.76m wide, 0.35m deep—were also sealed by the burnt mound. A sample of alder charcoal from the basal fill of the larger pit returned an Early Bronze Age date of 1943–1693 cal. BC (UBA-47424; 3502±43BP). A modern stone-capped drain, 26.5m long, 0.4m wide and 0.3m deep, cut through the mound.
Two flint and chert flakes, two flint and chert scrapers, a perforated quartz sandstone weight and a sandstone grinding and hammer stone were retrieved from the site. One of the flint scrapers was a particularly large and fine example which is not likely to be from a local source. Charred wood remains from the burnt mound and fills of the trough and pits consisted of alder, hazel, ash, pomaceous fruitwood, willow, elder and blackthorn/cherry.
Archaeological Management Solutions Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare. V15 C780
