Burnt spread

The National Monuments Service's description

Discovered through archaeological test excavation in association with the ‘N5 Ballaghaderreen-Scramoge Road Project’ (Ministerial Direction No. A077; Registration No. E52346).
In boggy ground in clear-felled forestry. Consisted of an irregularly shaped spread (11.71m N-S; 6.89m E-W: D 0.15-0.46m) of charcoal-rich soil and heat-shattered sandstone. No associated trough or pits were recorded. The surface of the spread was cut near the W by a later, N-S field drain. Charred wood macro-remains from the burnt spread consisted primarily of alder, hazel, oak, pomaceous fruitwood and willow. A sample of willow charcoal returned a Middle to Late Bronze Age date of 1264–1055 cal. BC1 (UBA-46770; 2963±24BP).

The burnt spread continued to E (est. L c. 10m), outside the limits of the road-take, so its full extent was not ascertained. These remains survive in situ outside of the limits of the excavation.

Reference: Brian O'Hara and Kevin Kearney 'N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project Stage (iv) Final Report: Leggatinty 8’ (Unpublished, 2022).

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy based on information provided by Deirdre McCarthy.

Date of upload: 8 August 2023