Burnt mound in Bekan

In an area of marginal, marshy land, with a small water course to W. This burnt mound was exposed in section in the pipe trench during archaeological monitoring of the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme (2001-2002). It was recorded and sampled under licence 01E0314 (Guinan 2015, 104, 118-120; Bekan II). It was visible on the S side of pipe trench as a layer (D 0.1m) of burnt stone in charcoal-rich peat. It underlay a layer (0.6m) of peat and overlay white boulder clay. The burnt layer appeared to extend to S beyond the road. A sample of charcoal was retrieved which produced a radiocarbon date of 3700+/-45 BP (2210-1940 BC) placing the site in the Early Bronze Age. (Guinan 2015, 118-120). Compiled by: Jane O’ Shaughnessy Date of upload: 3 March 2016

Burnt mound in Bekan is a Neolithic ritual or domestic feature, dating to approximately 4000–2500 BCE. Its significance lies in providing evidence of early human activity in a marginal, wetland environment, contributing to understanding Neolithic settlement patterns in the region.