Burnt spread in Oxpark

Situated 40m S of a small stream running through the centre of the eco-village, 275m W of Cloghjordan House (TN016-001003-) in the historic village of Cloghjordan (TN016-001----). Fulacht fia (TN016-010----) 110m to NNW and second fulacht fia (TN016-009----) 95m to E. Archaeological test trenching by Emer Dennehy on behalf of Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd. in 2006 under licence number 06E0257 uncovered the remains of a burnt spread (Dennehy 2009, 491). The monument has been fully excavated. The test excavation results were summarised by Dennehy (2009, 490-1) as following; 'The proposed development at Cloughjordan comprises a 67-acre site within which a ‘sustainable village’ is to be constructed. A total of 133 mixed residential units will be constructed on the southern twenty acres of the site and 30% of the development site will be used for woodlands with the remaining 40% used for agricultural activity. The site is in a rich archaeological and historical environment, with the three RMP sites located within or adjacent to the development. These sites, namely the moated site (TN011–028----) and Cloughjordan Castle (TN016–001----), attest the Anglo-Norman occupation of the area. The enclosure site [TN011-029----], though levelled, is illustrated on cartographic sources and was perceived to be medieval in date. However, a late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age ring-barrow (TN011-038---) was identified immediately adjacent to the enclosure and now suggests the enclosure could be prehistoric. Initial investigations involved a detailed geophysical survey (06R020) and this was followed by an archaeological impact assessment targeting known and suspected areas of archaeological activity. A total of 2184 linear metres of trenches were opened, identifying five archaeological sites that would be impacted upon by the development. The area of the enclosure was excluded from the testing programme. The five sites identified were two fulachta fiadh (Sites 1 and 2) [TN016-009----], 1 burnt spread (Site 3), a post-medieval blast furnace (possible) (Site 4) [TN016-008----] and a ring-barrow (Site 5) [TN011-039----]. Sites 4 and 5 were excluded from the development and are to be preserved in situ. Sites 1–3 were excavated over a four-week period in June/July 2006. Site 3 - This site comprised a thin spread of burnt-mound material situated 80m to the south-west of Site 1. This spread survived to a maximum depth of 0.03m and measured 6m north-west/south-east by 7m. It was composed of 50% heat-shattered limestone in a charcoal-enriched dark-brown peat matrix'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 6 May 2020