Burnt mound in Cookstown Great

At Burnt mound A a large oval pit (dims 3.3m x 2.6m; D 0.84m) has a shallower ramp-like adjunct (dims 2.63m N-S; 1.12m D 0.32m) at S. Its basal fill is silts but slippage of burnt mound material forms the upper fill of the pit and ramp. About 5m to the SW is a smaller water-hole (dims 2.3m x 1.95m; D 1m) with a more gently sloped upper edge that had a single fill of clayey silt. A sample of burnt bone from the fill provided a C14 date of 791-541 cal. BC, placing it in the Iron Age. There were six smaller pits (dims 1m x 1m; D 0.5m to 2.16m x 1.4m; D 0.35m) with silt fills that are interpreted as possible cooking troughs but one deeper oval one (dims 1.72m x 1.05m; D 1.05m) with a flared opening might also have been a water-hole. There are no postholes or hearths associated with the features and only three small spreads (dims 0.6m x 0.6m; T 0.05m to dims 2.2m x 1.94m; T 0.16m) survived of the burnt mound. (McLoughlin 2010, 18-20) See the attached plans adapted from McLoughlin 2020 (figs 5, 15) ME017-089_1 Location; ME017-089006- Plan; Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 23 March 2022

Burnt mound in Cookstown Great is a Bronze Age ritual or industrial site, characterized by the presence of heat-altered stones and associated pits. Its significance lies in providing evidence of prehistoric activity, possibly related to feasting, metallurgy, or ceremonial practices.