During an archaeological assessment carried out ahead of a proposed flood relief scheme, researchers discovered a layer of burnt material embedded in the riverbank, sitting about a quarter to a third of a metre beneath the current ground surface.

This burnt spread at Carnashannagh represents a snapshot of ancient industrial or domestic activity in County Donegal. The discovery included both a metal object and metal slag retrieved from the charred layer, suggesting this site may have been used for metalworking or other activities involving fire and metal processing. Such finds are particularly valuable for understanding how past communities in this part of Ireland lived, worked, and utilised their local landscape.

While the exact age and full significance of the site remain to be determined through further analysis, the presence of burnt material combined with metalworking evidence hints at a location that once buzzed with human activity. Whether this was a temporary workshop, part of a larger settlement, or evidence of a specific event, the Carnashannagh burnt spread adds another piece to the complex puzzle of Donegal’s archaeological heritage, preserved by chance in the eroding riverbank until its discovery in recent years.