2022:372 - Cargagh, Cavan

A programme of archaeological testing was carried out at Cargagh, Co. Cavan. There are recorded monuments within wider vicinity of the proposed development. To the north of the proposed site and located on a rise in the adjacent field are RMP CV026-010---- Ringfort, CV026-011---- Ringfort, MA043-009---- Enclosure; the proposed development area is not within the Zone of Archaeological Notification for these monuments.
The development works entail the construction of a tipping area along with all necessary site works and ancillaries. The development area is approx. 1.215 acres within a field of 5.454 acres. Due to the scale of the proposed development the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage requested that a suitably qualified archaeologist be engaged to conduct pre-development archaeological testing.
Testing, undertaken on 14 November 2022, was carried out by a mechanical excavator under strict archaeological supervision. A total of 8 linear test trenches were excavated at regular intervals across the site. The areas test trenched included the access road, vehicle turning area and the footprint of the proposed tipping area which is located at the base of a steeply sloping field and bounded by small streams to the east and south. The area in the southeast where tipping is proposed has wetland vegetation in the form of thick rushes and was waterlogged from recent rain. The wet nature of the site and the nearby stream made it increasingly likely that burnt mounds (fulachta fiadh) might be encountered and indeed three burnt mounds were found below the topsoil, Sites 1, 2 & 3. Sites 1 and 2 were in Test Trench 4 located along the southern perimeter, whilst Site 3 was located 15m north of Sites 1 and 2.
Test Trench 4 was mechanically excavated aligned north-east/south-west in the tipping area, along the southern boundary and 10m from the neighboring stream. It measured 41m in length, 1.9m wide and 0.45m maximum depth. The stratigraphy consisted of a sod layer over dark brown peaty clay subsoil over mid-grey boulder clay with occasional small stones.
Burnt mound (Site 1) was discovered at 30m from the north-east end of the trench at ITM 649004/800228. An area measuring 6m x 6m was mechanically opened to reveal the full extent of the site. The burnt mound covered an area of 4m x 4m and was found below 0.3m of topsoil. The burnt spread comprised heat-affected stone and charcoal-enriched soil. There was no trace of other features including the possible location of a trough. Within the same trench at 5m south-west of the first burnt mound a second burnt mound (Site 2) was encountered at ITM 648998/800222. An area measuring 3m x 5m was mechanically opened to reveal the full extent of the burnt mound. The site measured 3.3m north-south by 2.2m and was found below 0.2m of topsoil. There was no trace of other features including the possible location of a trough.
Test Trench 5 was mechanically excavated running north-east/south-west, parallel with and 15m from Test Trench 4. Test Trench 5 measured 25m in length, 1.9m wide and 0.5m maximum depth. The stratigraphy consisted of a sod layer over dark brown peaty clay subsoil over mid-grey boulder clay and marl with occasional small stones. A burnt mound (Site 3) was discovered at 20m from the north-east end of the trench at ITM 649010/800248. An area measuring 5m x 5m was mechanically opened to reveal the full extent of the site. The burnt mound covered an area of 2.4m north-south by 3.4m and was found below 0.5m of topsoil. The burnt spread comprised heat-affected stone and charcoal-enriched soil. There was no trace of other features including the possible location of the trough. This area was very waterlogged, and the site was quickly immersed in water.
The three burnt mound sites were covered in geotextile material, covered over with the spoil from the trench and preserved in situ. It was recommended that any future ground works proposed in the vicinity of these sites involve no sub-surface works that would impinge on the preservation in situ of the sites. No subsurface works are now proposed following the discovery of the three burnt mounds.

Cooldrumman Upper, Carney, Co. Sligo