2022:353 - Rathedmond and Finisklin, Sligo

Archaeological material was identified at a development site adjacent to the former Ursuline Convent, Sligo. Archaeological testing (Phase 1) was conducted between May 18 and 20 2020 under licence 20E0178. It was recommended that the archaeological features identified during testing be fully excavated prior to any development taking place. The features were fully excavated (Phase 2) on June 25 and 26 2020 following a request for an extension to licence 20E0178.
The four features (F1-4) excavated showed evidence of charcoal production and metal working at the site. Feature 1 and 2 comprised two small bowl-shaped pits with charcoal inclusions – these were interpreted as possible bowl furnaces, however the lack of in-situ burning may refute this interpretation. Both these features were truncated by modern furrows which may have obliterated further evidence to support this interpretation. F3 also appeared to have a similar function relating to charcoal production and may have been a charcoal-production kiln/clamp – again the lack of in situ burning here may suggest that there was another function to the pit that is not clear. F4 comprised a sub rectangular pit with a charcoal-enriched soil and extensive in-situ burning evident from the heat -affected surrounding substrate. F4 may have functioned, along with the other features, as a charcoal-production kiln/clamp. A charcoal sample was obtained through floatation and sieving of a soil sample retrieved from C20, the charcoal-enriched fill of F4. The sample was submitted under NMI licence to alter & export to Queen’s University Belfast Chronolab for radiocarbon dating. Prior to submitting the sample, the wood species was identified as alder by archaeological wood specialist Ellen O’Carroll. The Radiocarbon Age BP 1307 +/- 23 and the calibrated date obtained was cal AD 660- 706 726-773 (95.4 (2 sigma)) with the median probability of cal AD 721.
Archaeological monitoring (Phase 3) was undertaken of all groundworks within the vicinity of the previously excavated features and in areas of the site that were not accessible during test trenching. Monitoring took place over the course of six days between October 2021 and March 2022. The topsoil was mechanically stripped from the site using a 13-tonne machine equipped with a 1.5m graded bucket. No extensive features of archaeological significance were noted during topsoil stripping. An oblong pit (F5) was observed and was summarily excavated and comprised a pit-like feature, 2m (L), 0.5m (W) & 0.25m (D). No artefacts or ecofacts was identified in this feature which may be a tree bole or similar natural feature; it was irregular, undefined and did not appear to be archaeological. Several unworked flints were found during monitoring of topsoil stripping. Worked lithics in the form of a flint scraper, a retouched flint flake and a chert scraper were found as stray finds in the topsoil.

Cooldrumman Upper, Carney, Co. Sligo