Burnt spread in Stonestown

A burnt spread was recently identified by Dominic Delaney & Associates while carrying out archaeological monitoring between 10th-12th November 2021, in advance of afforestation at Stonestown, County Offaly. The report was prepared in compliance with the archaeological conditions attached to the Afforestation Licence issued by the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Ref. CN85059). The results of the monitoring were described as follows; 'A spread of burnt material (c. 8m²) was identified in the adjoining field c. 35m northwest of the burnt mound [OF022-030----]. The extent of the spread was established on the ground to the north and east where mounding had been completed prior to the discovery of the burnt material. There was no mounding proposed to the south where there is a 10m unplanted area bordering the existing field boundary, which is defined by a substantial ditch. A 20m exclusion zone was established from the outer edge of the spread. Mounding recommenced 20m to the west and there was no evidence of burnt material in this area. The field is generally flat and there is no evidence of a mound or indeed any slight rise in the field surface at the site of the discovery' (Delaney 2022). See attached photographs courtesy of Dominic Delaney Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Dominic Delaney Date of upload: 23 March 2022