Burnt spread

The National Monuments Service's description

Located in a NW-facing sand dune on Salleen beach, overlooking the narrow channel which separates it from the dune system at Tramore Burrow, on the E side of Tramore Bay. The most southerly of a number of burnt spread (WA027-025001-; WA027-025005-; WA027-025007-), burnt mound (WA027-025002-; WA027-025004-) and midden (WA027-025003-) deposits which are visible along the foreshore.
The dune, as exposed on the dune face, is composed of a lower layer of compacted yellow boulder clay (T 0.7-1.3m), over which there is a very compact layer of grey natural with very few stones (T 0.15-0.4m), possibly original topsoil or mud, and above this there is a thick layer of sand (T c. 4m).
Where the burnt spread (L 13.4m) is visible, it occurs as a charcoal rich layer (T 0.03-0.09m) within a grey layer with a high concentration of small stones (T 0.4m). Above this is a thick layer of sand (T c. 4m). The NW face of the dunes kicks in in places by 3-3.5m and the burnt spread is still visible where it has kicked it.
Within the charcoal rich stoney layer, and projecting from it, there is a possible stone feature which consists of a lower fractured, possibly heat-cracked red sandstone conglomerate (overall Wth c. 63m; H 0.31m; D c. 0.2). The centre portion of the fractured stone has collapsed, leaving the N portion (Wth 0.26m; H 0.13m; D 0.2m) and the S portion (Wth 0.31m; H 0.11m; D 0.15m). On top of this there is a grey conglomerate flat stone (Wth 0.45m; H 0.09m) which is covered by more stoney material within the grey layer (T 0.11m).
Approximately 2.3m to the N, within the burnt spread layer, there is a distinct compact area of fire-reddened clay (Wth 0.43m; T 0.32m).
The NW face of the sand dune are constantly exposed to sea erosion. Immediately S of the burnt spread the sand has receded, leaving an exposed platform of yellow boulder clay covered by a gradually eroding grey layer of original topsoil or mud.

See attached photographs:
WA027-025008-_01 NW face of sand dune from the SW, with burnt spread occupying the area defined by the ranging rods
WA027-025008-_02 Detail of charcoal layer in S end of burnt spread
WA027-025008-_03 Possible stone feature towards N end of burnt spread
WA027-025008-_04 Compact area of fire-reddened clay N of possible stone feature
WA027-025008-_05 Centre and N of centre (to left) of burnt spread, with compact area of fire-reddened clay and possible stone feature
WA027-025008-_06 S end of burnt spread

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload/revision: 23 January 2023