In the news: Prehistoric sites found along Ireland's new N4 route

Several years ago, prehistoric settlement sites dating back almost 6,000 years were found in a part of Ireland, located on it's far northern and western coast. (not in "Northern Ireland"). Since we find archaeology fascinating, and we've not heard about it, perhaps you haven't either... so we're re-presenting the story from a local Ireland newspaper here.

Prehistoric sites found along Ireland's new N4 route

August 18 2017 11:00 PM
The Sligo Champion newspaper, Ireland

"Pretty impressive" prehistoric sites have been found along the route being excavated for the new N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin road.

Bronze Age fulacht fiadh cooking pits, meeting/living sites and burial sites containing bones and beads are among the exciting discoveries made by archaeologists during recent excavations.

A large Bronze Age site (c. 3,900 BC-AD 400) near Castlebaldwin was one of the more impressive finds, according to Transport Infrastructure Ireland Archaeological Project Manager Orlaith Egan.

Aerial pic: prehistoric palisade enclosure @Carrownagark.CR:Irish Archaeological Consultancy 

"It's a really good site that we found, a complex site of both Bronze and Iron Age with a double Palisade (wooden fencing) enclosure," she told The Sligo Champion.

"We found burnt bones and beads, which would have been token offerings. It has a structure on the side, as well as smithing and habitat structures. It's quite impressive," she added.

A second smaller site of approx. 30m was found on a hill top at Carrownagark, also near Castlebaldwin.

"It's another really good site," said Orlaith, adding that it's believed the enclosure was used for some sort of habitation or ritual.

Found in the northwestern part of Ireland

A third habitation site found near Castlebaldwin contained hearths, cremated pits and pottery.

All artefacts and soil samples were carefully excavated and sent off for analysis.

"The real story will be when we do our post-excavation analysis and figure out what they tell us about prehistoric Sligo," said Orlaith.

The findings will then be published in a book in about two years time as part of TII's remit to inform the public about all archaeological finds.

"There's a real rich archaeological element to the Sligo landscape, it continues from the times of the Megalithic tombs," said Orlaith.

The findings will be presented in full by archaeologist Brian O'Hara at IT Sligo on Monday 21st August at 7pm.