Burnt spread

The National Monuments Service's description

Located in a boggy, pasture field which is crossed by several drains. To the north the ground rises to a ridge with frequent rock out-cropping. The N56 borders the S side of the field.
This burnt spread was discovered in 2021 during archaeological testing of a proposed topsoil storage area for a road scheme on the N56 Leitirmacaward to Glenties (Kilraine) approved road (Ministerial Direction No.: A065, extension to Registration No.: E005316) (Quinn 2021).
The burnt spread underlay a layer of peat (D 0.9m). It consists of a sub-circular layer (diam. c. 4m; max. D 0.15m) of charcoal enriched clay, with mottling and staining extending over a larger area (diam. c. 5.5m). It may represent the result of early land clearance. The layer was not excavated, but was covered in geotextile and backfilled, and will be excluded from the proposed development at this location. (Quinn 2021)

Attached image is courtesy of B. Quinn, Moore Group:
DG065-019----_01.JPG Burnt spread exposed in test trench, viewed from S

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 7 May 2021

References

Quinn, B. 2021 Report on the results of archaeological testing of a topsoil storage area at Letterilly on the Letterilly to Glenties section of the N56 Leitirmacaward to Glenties (Kilraine) approved road. (Ministerial Direction No.: A065, extension to Registration No.: E005316). Moore Group, Galway. Unpublished report submitted to NMS, March 2021