Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo: Report 2011

Area A
A long length of Neolithic field wall and some associated features were identified from here,
which was located in the very centre of the site. The charcoal spreads, cattle horn, and a
range of other deposits seem to primarily date to the Early Bronze Age but include Iron Age
dates.
A small alder branch was located adhering to pot (find no). Some birch charcoal was
identified adhering to a quern (S. 002). A mixture of mainly oak, with hazel, birch and ivy was
noted from a shallow area near a pit (S. 019). Underlying a brown habitation layer, oak only
was identified from S. 022, which may indicate some structural remains. Mainly oak, hazel
and birch, along with pine and alder were identified from a charcoal spread (S. 035).
A charcoal spread in trench 1 contained birch, hazel, ivy and oak (S.027). A further charcoal
spread from this area contained mainly alder and birch (S.040).
A hazel branch was analysed which was found in association with a horn (S096). 25
fragments were identified, the ring width pattern indicate that these are all from the one
branch. Nine annual rings were counted on this roundwood. A high level of insect holes was
present indicating that the branch was quite degraded and insect ridden before it was burnt
(Plate 1).This may represent a hazel handle element which was fixed to the horn.
Plate 1 Insect holes from charcoal S096
31