County: Sligo Site name: Lugatober 1
Sites and Monuments Record No.: NA Licence number: E005264, R00544
Author: Patrick Walsh
Site type: Burnt spreads, pits/troughs, possible charcoal-production pit and a brickmaking site (or clamp kiln)
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 571809m, N 841010m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.317045, -8.433277
Stage (iii) Excavations were undertaken at Lugatober 1, carried out in advance of construction of the N16 Lugatober (Drumkilsellagh to Lugnagall) Road Project, Co. Sligo.
Lugatober 1 consisted of burnt spreads and other features located adjacent to a stream in pastureland immediately west of a sharp bend on the existing N16 road. The site was identified during Stage (i)a Test Excavations undertaken in 2020 by Archaeological Management Solutions Ltd (AMS) (Dowling & McKee 2020; Registration No.: E005188; Ministerial Consent Ref.: A079).
The on-site Stage (iii) Excavation Services at Lugnagall 1 were undertaken from the 27 October to 6 November 2020. Stage (iii) Excavation and Post-Excavation Assessment Services aimed to preserve by record through appropriate rescue excavation all significant archaeological features and deposits at Lugatober 1 in order to mitigate impacts on the archaeological remains.
The site consisted of three small burnt spreads, four pits/troughs, a possible charcoal-production pit and a small brickmaking site (or clamp kiln).
The burnt spreads were composed of charcoal-rich clay and frequent heat-shattered stone that extended over areas ranging from about 1.3m to 6m in maximum size. Four discrete pits/troughs containing burnt material were also identified and may be associated troughs. Small-scale ‘industrial’ activity of uncertain date is suggested by a possible charcoal-production pit (c.1.88m by 1.82m and 0.5m deep), while post-medieval/modern brick production is indicated by the remains of a small clamp kiln. Bulk soil samples were retrieved from significant archaeological contexts for subsequent environmental analysis.
Two other burnt spreads were identified at the sites of Lugnagall 1 and Lugnagall 2, about 1km north of Lugatober 1, during the N16 Project. Two charcoal-production pits were also found at the site of Collinsford 1 about 680m to the north-east. No other brickmaking sites were discovered on the scheme.
Archaeological Management Solutions Ltd, Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare
