ISSN 2009-2237
This report constitutes the final excavation report on a 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 found within the lands acquired for the scheme during phase 1 archaeological testing. The site consisted of the western extent of a burnt mound, a re-cut trough and a well.
The new road clipped the western edge of a burnt mound. The excavation revealed the presence of a large trough and a well. Both features were located below the remains of the burnt mound material. Two Late Bronze Age radiocarbon dates were obtained from basal fill of the trough and the well.
The burnt mound site known as Caherweelder 1 is located on low ground on the western edge of an area of improved rough pasture. The surrounding area is prone to flooding. A turlough lies just to the north-east and a small pool named Pollbaun is located to the south-east. A preference for wetland margins has been consistently noted by other commentators (Gowen et al. 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: Agnes Kerrigan & Finn Delaney
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