2020:816 - CALTRAGH (Carbury By.), Sligo

Archaeological testing was carried out in advance of a proposed residential development at Newtownholmes Road, Caltragh, Co. Sligo. Testing was carried out over a period of four weeks from 2-24 June, 2020. Initial methodology for testing was mainly targeted on results of a geophysical survey carried out by Dr James Bonsall (Licence No. 19R0251) and consisted of 13 test trenches across three fields of proposed development. No evidence for any definitive archaeological features were encountered in Fields 2 and 3 during initial programme of trenching.
A second program of trenching (Trenches 14-25) helped clarify and further define the nature and extent of archaeology within the proposed development area. An additional eight trenches (Trenches 14-21) opened in Fields 2 and 3 confirmed the absence of any archaeological features within this portion of the development.
The additional four trenches (22-25) opened in Field 1 at the southern end of the proposed development confirmed the presence of a substantial double ditched circular enclosure measuring 49m in external diameter and located in the western area of the field. The outer ditch (F1) measured c.0.30m wide and 0.25m deep possibly cutting earlier post-holes or pits on the northern side of the enclosure.
The inner ditch (F2) was also identified measuring c.37m in diameter by 2.5m wide and 0.65-0.75m deep. Two fragments of cremated bone and small amounts of charcoal were discovered. A rounded nodule of granite/quartz was discovered on the surface of the inner ditch (F2) amongst the large stones in the centre of the ditch. Other small pits and post-holes were also discovered inside and outside the enclosure in Field 1, and were left unexcavated.
All archaeological features were surveyed and covered with a layer of permeable terram before all trenches were backfilled on completion of testing. The evidence uncovered points to an extensive double ditched enclosure.
Evidence from Trench 25 at the eastern side of Field 1 also points to a strong likelihood of additional archaeological features surrounding the enclosure within the area of Field 1.
A charcoal sample from the inner enclosing ditch F2 Trench 1 was identified as Maloideae or apple-type (which includes apple, pear, hawthorn, rowan), 0.1g of this was sent to Vilnius Radiocarbon lab for AMS dating and a date range of 1167 +/-24 BP (Lab Code FTMC-FZ68-2) was obtained, which gives a calibrated date range between 772-973AD.
The discovery of such an extensive enclosure in close proximity to the previous discoveries from the N4 SIRR excavations hints at the likely significance of this monument within the prehistoric and early medieval landscape of this archaeologically-rich area. Redesign of the proposed development to avoid impacting on archaeological material in Field 1 was recommended and subsequently implemented. This enclosure has now been assigned Recorded Monument No. SL014-303.