ISSN 2009-2237
This report constitutes the final excavation report of a previously recorded (GA103:083) burnt mound in the townland of Caherweelder, Co. Galway. The site was excavated as part of the archaeological excavation programme in advance of construction for N18 Gort to Oranmore road scheme. The site was located within the lands acquired for the scheme and was identified during the EIS and was subject to archaeological testing at Phase 1 (E3692) in order to establish the full extent of the burnt mound deposits.
This was a previously known classic kidney shaped burnt mound which was listed as a Recorded Monument (GA103:083). The site was located within the lands acquired for the N18 Oranmore to Gort scheme and was fully excavated. The large mound consisted of a series of deposits consistent with those from other burnt mounds. A single oval shaped trough was located partially under the mound and to the north-west of the expected trough location at the centre of the kidney shape. Some slag and a chert scraper (E3866:23:1) were recovered from stratified deposits within the mound.
The burnt mound site known as Caherweelder 5 is located on low ground on the western edge of a turlough. This preference for wetland margins has been consistently noted by other commentators (Gowen et al 2005 and Grogan 2007). Grogan (2007) states that in the ‘Mooghaun area of south-east Clare the majority of fulachta fiadh occur along the margins of turloughs, bogs and marshy areas’. The burnt mound sites at Moyveela (to the north) which were excavated as part of the same programme of excavations had a similar location on slightly raised ground on the edge of a turlough.
Authors: Enda O’Mahony & Finn Delaney
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