Burnt mound in Cherryville

'Site 6', Cherryville was immediately to the east of 'Site 5' (KD022-106----). When excavated (Thaddeus C. Breen, Licence No. 01E0583: www.excavations.ie) it was found to consist principally of a spread of burnt stone and charcoal-rich soil, 9m by 7m by only 0.1m thick. It overlay a layer of compact dark brown clay (C109) which extended beyond it to the north, and a thin layer of peat which extended beyond it to the south. A stone axehead was found in 109. A small number of waste flint flakes were found, mostly in 109 and the burnt spread proper. A few small irregular hollows were found under the burnt spread, but the only real pit was 113, a shallow subrectangular structure measuring 1.23m by 0.7m with a maximum depth of 0.1m. It lay directly under the topsoil, and was cut into the burnt spread and 109. It was filled with a light grey to white silty clay which contained some burnt stone (mostly limestone). At the base, in the middle, were two stake-holes side by side. To the east of the burnt spread was a modern ditch which had been backfilled in recent years. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 23 November 2011

Burnt mound, likely dating to the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. Its significance lies in providing evidence of prehistoric domestic or ritual activity, such as heat-related processes or ceremonial practices.