This report summarizes the archaeological excavation of a burnt mound site located in Cooltymurraghy townland, Co. Galway. The site consisted of a burnt spread (C.7) that had been cut by a later water channel (C.16). Charcoal from the burnt spread yielded an Early Bronze Age radiocarbon date, consistent with other burnt mound sites in the area. The excavation is one of five Bronze Age sites uncovered along the route of a new road between Galway and Ballinasloe.
The document discusses excavation methods in archaeology. It provides an overview of different excavation techniques used in archaeological sites, including vertical excavation, horizontal excavation, grid system, locus method, quadrant method, and test pitting. The importance of stratigraphy and choosing appropriate excavation methods based on the site are emphasized. Overall, the document outlines key excavation approaches and their significance in properly uncovering and analyzing archaeological remains.
Kahaum stone pillar Inscription of Skandagupta.pdfPrachiSontakke5
The Kahom stone pillar inscription from 5th century CE India documents the erection of a stone pillar and statues of Jain tirthankaras by a man named Madra during the rule of Gupta king Skandagupta. It describes Skandagupta's lineage, the troubles faced by the Gupta dynasty, and Skandagupta's role in restoring stability. Madra commissioned the monument to commemorate the transient nature of life and benefit all beings. The inscription provides evidence of Jainism's presence in the region during this period and corroborates accounts of Skandagupta's empire extending from Bengal to Gujarat.
1 - The Writing Of Archaeological Reports: 2. State and Central Govt. Laws an...Dr. Ashwani Asthana
The Writing Of Archaeological Reports: 2. State and Central Govt. Laws and Regulations concerning archaeological sites, monuments, antiquities etc. :
3. Salvage archaeology:
Archaeology is the scientific study of past human societies through excavating physical evidence. An archaeologist's site is chosen based on artifacts or history found on the surface or from sources. A unit is a square area an archaeologist chooses to dig within. Setting up a 2x2 unit involves measuring sides that are 200 cm and calculating the hypotenuse. Tools used include shovels, trowels, measuring tapes, and brushes. First the plow zone to 25 cm below the surface is removed, keeping an eye out for artifacts. Below this, changes in soil color indicate features that may contain more artifacts. Careful excavation of 5 cm levels allows examination of each soil layer.
The study of the past is to understand the human behavioural activities and cultural progress in a sequential order based on tangible and intangible evidences in a given socio-economic-cultural context. The Archaeological data has to be placed in a chronological order to understand this sequential cultural process. For this, various dating methods are being used in the archaeological investigations.
समुद्री व्यापार.pptx Maritime Trade in IndiaVirag Sontakke
This Presentation is prepared for Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes. The pictures/Maps included in the presentation are taken/copied from the internet. The presenter is thankful to them and herewith courtesy is given to all. This presentation is only for academic purposes.
This document provides an overview of various ancient scripts including Hieroglyphics, Cuneiform, Indus Valley script, Brahmi, and Kharoshthi. It discusses the origins and development of these scripts, key individuals involved in their decipherment, and ongoing debates around certain scripts like the Indus Valley script. The challenges around deciphering ancient scripts are also summarized, particularly the lack of bilingual texts or lengthy inscriptions for the Indus Valley script.
The document discusses excavation methods in archaeology. It provides an overview of different excavation techniques used in archaeological sites, including vertical excavation, horizontal excavation, grid system, locus method, quadrant method, and test pitting. The importance of stratigraphy and choosing appropriate excavation methods based on the site are emphasized. Overall, the document outlines key excavation approaches and their significance in properly uncovering and analyzing archaeological remains.
Kahaum stone pillar Inscription of Skandagupta.pdfPrachiSontakke5
The Kahom stone pillar inscription from 5th century CE India documents the erection of a stone pillar and statues of Jain tirthankaras by a man named Madra during the rule of Gupta king Skandagupta. It describes Skandagupta's lineage, the troubles faced by the Gupta dynasty, and Skandagupta's role in restoring stability. Madra commissioned the monument to commemorate the transient nature of life and benefit all beings. The inscription provides evidence of Jainism's presence in the region during this period and corroborates accounts of Skandagupta's empire extending from Bengal to Gujarat.
1 - The Writing Of Archaeological Reports: 2. State and Central Govt. Laws an...Dr. Ashwani Asthana
The Writing Of Archaeological Reports: 2. State and Central Govt. Laws and Regulations concerning archaeological sites, monuments, antiquities etc. :
3. Salvage archaeology:
Archaeology is the scientific study of past human societies through excavating physical evidence. An archaeologist's site is chosen based on artifacts or history found on the surface or from sources. A unit is a square area an archaeologist chooses to dig within. Setting up a 2x2 unit involves measuring sides that are 200 cm and calculating the hypotenuse. Tools used include shovels, trowels, measuring tapes, and brushes. First the plow zone to 25 cm below the surface is removed, keeping an eye out for artifacts. Below this, changes in soil color indicate features that may contain more artifacts. Careful excavation of 5 cm levels allows examination of each soil layer.
The study of the past is to understand the human behavioural activities and cultural progress in a sequential order based on tangible and intangible evidences in a given socio-economic-cultural context. The Archaeological data has to be placed in a chronological order to understand this sequential cultural process. For this, various dating methods are being used in the archaeological investigations.
समुद्री व्यापार.pptx Maritime Trade in IndiaVirag Sontakke
This Presentation is prepared for Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes. The pictures/Maps included in the presentation are taken/copied from the internet. The presenter is thankful to them and herewith courtesy is given to all. This presentation is only for academic purposes.
This document provides an overview of various ancient scripts including Hieroglyphics, Cuneiform, Indus Valley script, Brahmi, and Kharoshthi. It discusses the origins and development of these scripts, key individuals involved in their decipherment, and ongoing debates around certain scripts like the Indus Valley script. The challenges around deciphering ancient scripts are also summarized, particularly the lack of bilingual texts or lengthy inscriptions for the Indus Valley script.
Skandagupta issued an inscription in 459-460 CE that was erected as a pillar at Kahom village in Deoria district, Uttar Pradesh. The pillar contained sculptures of Jain tirthankaras and an inscription describing the lineage of the individuals who commissioned the pillar's construction. It was erected by Madra, son of Rudrasoma, for the welfare of all beings and to honor the first Jain teachers. The inscription provides valuable information about the Gupta dynasty and Skandagupta's reign.
This Presentation is Prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the primitive economy of India. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles.
This Presentation is prepared for the BA students to get basic informations related to the Religion of vedic and later vedic period. This presentations is not complete and it is advise to the students to get further informations in the related books.
Indo-Roman trade flourished between the 1st century BCE to 2nd century CE due to the political and economic strength of the Roman Empire and the rise of kingdoms in India like the Kushans and Satavahanas. Key commodities traded were spices, textiles, gems from India and glass, wine, and metals from Rome. Major ports involved in the trade included Barygaza, Muziris, and Arikamedu. Archaeological evidence like amphorae, coins, and other artifacts provide evidence of extensive trade networks and cultural exchange between the two regions.
Exploration Method’s in Archaeological Studies & ResearchPrachya Adhyayan
The principal concern of any archaeological fieldwork is to acquire new information within the context of a well-designed program of research. This program of research today ranges from goal-specific one day fieldwork to long term ventures covering many field seasons. In the field, one of the main concern of the archaeologist is the study of artifacts and features. Artifacts are the objects made or used or modified by the man such as stone tools, pottery and metal objects. A site is selected on the basis of combination of several factors, such as the period of the site, the length of the occupation, the importance of the structures and the site uniqueness in the area.
Further, the archaeological site is selected to address specific goal or goals.
The goal covers in terms of time, space, subject matter and approach.
The research is tailored made to solve specific problem(s).
The Law of Stratigraphy in archaeology refers to a set of fundamental principles that govern the deposition of geological and archaeological layers over time. These laws serve as the cornerstone for establishing relative chronologies within archaeological sites, allowing archaeologists to determine the relative ages of different layers or strata.
One of the most well-known laws is the Law of Superposition, which states that in an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top. This principle forms the basis for understanding the temporal sequence of events within a site.
Another important principle is the Law of Original Horizontality, which asserts that sedimentary layers are originally deposited in horizontal or nearly horizontal layers. This law aids archaeologists in interpreting the original orientation of geological strata and helps identify any subsequent tilting or folding that may have occurred.
The Law of Lateral Continuity states that layers of sediment extend laterally in all directions until they thin out or encounter a barrier. This principle is crucial for correlating strata across different areas of a site.
The Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships helps determine the relative ages of geological features by examining their relationships with one another. Features such as faults, intrusions, or erosional surfaces that cut across existing layers are younger than the layers they intersect.
The Law of Faunal Succession and the Law of Biotic Succession rely on the principle that fossil organisms and biological communities succeed one another in a determinable order. By analyzing the fossil record and the succession of plant and animal species, archaeologists can infer relative ages of strata.
Overall, the Law of Stratigraphy provides archaeologists with essential tools for interpreting the temporal sequences of archaeological sites and constructing relative chronologies. These principles are fundamental to the practice of archaeology and are utilized in conjunction with other dating methods to reconstruct past human activities and environmental changes.
This Presentation is prepared for Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes. The pictures/Maps included in the presentation are taken/copied from the internet. The presenter is thankful to them and herewith courtesy is given to all. This presentation is only for academic purposes.
Radiocarbon dating / C-14 Absolute dating methodsPrachya Adhyayan
The radiocarbon dating has changed the face of the archaeological research. It has made a revolutionary impact in the fields of archaeology and Quaternary science. Willard F. Libby developed this method in 1948 as spin-off from atomic research during second world war. Since then, it remains the most widely used dating techniques in modern archaeology.
The document discusses the concepts of varna and jati in ancient Indian social life and institutions. It notes that jati emerged from varna and were further divisions based on occupation, endogamy, and culture. There were both positive and negative aspects to the jati system. Positively, jatis developed specialized skills and contributed to economic and social development. However, the rigid social hierarchies and restrictions of the jati system also led to discrimination and inequality in ancient Indian society. The document aims to analyze features, reasons for development, and impacts of the jati system according to various ancient Indian texts and foreign observers.
This Presentation is prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes.
This Presentation is prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes.
The study of the past is to understand the human behavioral activities and cultural progress in a sequential order based on tangible and intangible evidences in a given socio-economic-cultural context. The Archaeological data has to be placed in a chronological order to understand this sequential cultural process. For this, various dating methods are being used in the archaeological investigations.
This Presentation is prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes.
This Presentation is prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes.
This document provides an archaeological excavation report for a spade mill and lime kiln excavated at Coololla, Co. Galway. It includes background information on the archaeological and historical context of the site. The excavation uncovered the remains of a post-medieval building interpreted as a water-powered forge or spade mill, as well as a post-medieval lime kiln. While there is no evidence linking the two structures, they could potentially have been operated by the same individuals. The report provides detailed descriptions of the excavated structures and artifacts, and places them in the historical context of land use changes in the local area from the medieval to post-medieval periods.
This archaeological excavation report details the excavation of a post-medieval spade mill and lime kiln located in Coololla, Co. Galway. The spade mill structure was interpreted as a water-powered forge, likely used to produce spades. Stone foundations and a mill race were uncovered. The adjacent lime kiln structure contained evidence of limestone extraction and firing. While these structures were located near one another, there is no evidence they were contemporaneous. The report provides historical background on land use and ownership in the local area from the medieval period through the 17th century, and discusses the excavated structures and artifacts in detail.
Skandagupta issued an inscription in 459-460 CE that was erected as a pillar at Kahom village in Deoria district, Uttar Pradesh. The pillar contained sculptures of Jain tirthankaras and an inscription describing the lineage of the individuals who commissioned the pillar's construction. It was erected by Madra, son of Rudrasoma, for the welfare of all beings and to honor the first Jain teachers. The inscription provides valuable information about the Gupta dynasty and Skandagupta's reign.
This Presentation is Prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the primitive economy of India. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles.
This Presentation is prepared for the BA students to get basic informations related to the Religion of vedic and later vedic period. This presentations is not complete and it is advise to the students to get further informations in the related books.
Indo-Roman trade flourished between the 1st century BCE to 2nd century CE due to the political and economic strength of the Roman Empire and the rise of kingdoms in India like the Kushans and Satavahanas. Key commodities traded were spices, textiles, gems from India and glass, wine, and metals from Rome. Major ports involved in the trade included Barygaza, Muziris, and Arikamedu. Archaeological evidence like amphorae, coins, and other artifacts provide evidence of extensive trade networks and cultural exchange between the two regions.
Exploration Method’s in Archaeological Studies & ResearchPrachya Adhyayan
The principal concern of any archaeological fieldwork is to acquire new information within the context of a well-designed program of research. This program of research today ranges from goal-specific one day fieldwork to long term ventures covering many field seasons. In the field, one of the main concern of the archaeologist is the study of artifacts and features. Artifacts are the objects made or used or modified by the man such as stone tools, pottery and metal objects. A site is selected on the basis of combination of several factors, such as the period of the site, the length of the occupation, the importance of the structures and the site uniqueness in the area.
Further, the archaeological site is selected to address specific goal or goals.
The goal covers in terms of time, space, subject matter and approach.
The research is tailored made to solve specific problem(s).
The Law of Stratigraphy in archaeology refers to a set of fundamental principles that govern the deposition of geological and archaeological layers over time. These laws serve as the cornerstone for establishing relative chronologies within archaeological sites, allowing archaeologists to determine the relative ages of different layers or strata.
One of the most well-known laws is the Law of Superposition, which states that in an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top. This principle forms the basis for understanding the temporal sequence of events within a site.
Another important principle is the Law of Original Horizontality, which asserts that sedimentary layers are originally deposited in horizontal or nearly horizontal layers. This law aids archaeologists in interpreting the original orientation of geological strata and helps identify any subsequent tilting or folding that may have occurred.
The Law of Lateral Continuity states that layers of sediment extend laterally in all directions until they thin out or encounter a barrier. This principle is crucial for correlating strata across different areas of a site.
The Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships helps determine the relative ages of geological features by examining their relationships with one another. Features such as faults, intrusions, or erosional surfaces that cut across existing layers are younger than the layers they intersect.
The Law of Faunal Succession and the Law of Biotic Succession rely on the principle that fossil organisms and biological communities succeed one another in a determinable order. By analyzing the fossil record and the succession of plant and animal species, archaeologists can infer relative ages of strata.
Overall, the Law of Stratigraphy provides archaeologists with essential tools for interpreting the temporal sequences of archaeological sites and constructing relative chronologies. These principles are fundamental to the practice of archaeology and are utilized in conjunction with other dating methods to reconstruct past human activities and environmental changes.
This Presentation is prepared for Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes. The pictures/Maps included in the presentation are taken/copied from the internet. The presenter is thankful to them and herewith courtesy is given to all. This presentation is only for academic purposes.
Radiocarbon dating / C-14 Absolute dating methodsPrachya Adhyayan
The radiocarbon dating has changed the face of the archaeological research. It has made a revolutionary impact in the fields of archaeology and Quaternary science. Willard F. Libby developed this method in 1948 as spin-off from atomic research during second world war. Since then, it remains the most widely used dating techniques in modern archaeology.
The document discusses the concepts of varna and jati in ancient Indian social life and institutions. It notes that jati emerged from varna and were further divisions based on occupation, endogamy, and culture. There were both positive and negative aspects to the jati system. Positively, jatis developed specialized skills and contributed to economic and social development. However, the rigid social hierarchies and restrictions of the jati system also led to discrimination and inequality in ancient Indian society. The document aims to analyze features, reasons for development, and impacts of the jati system according to various ancient Indian texts and foreign observers.
This Presentation is prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes.
This Presentation is prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes.
The study of the past is to understand the human behavioral activities and cultural progress in a sequential order based on tangible and intangible evidences in a given socio-economic-cultural context. The Archaeological data has to be placed in a chronological order to understand this sequential cultural process. For this, various dating methods are being used in the archaeological investigations.
This Presentation is prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes.
This Presentation is prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes.
This document provides an archaeological excavation report for a spade mill and lime kiln excavated at Coololla, Co. Galway. It includes background information on the archaeological and historical context of the site. The excavation uncovered the remains of a post-medieval building interpreted as a water-powered forge or spade mill, as well as a post-medieval lime kiln. While there is no evidence linking the two structures, they could potentially have been operated by the same individuals. The report provides detailed descriptions of the excavated structures and artifacts, and places them in the historical context of land use changes in the local area from the medieval to post-medieval periods.
This archaeological excavation report details the excavation of a post-medieval spade mill and lime kiln located in Coololla, Co. Galway. The spade mill structure was interpreted as a water-powered forge, likely used to produce spades. Stone foundations and a mill race were uncovered. The adjacent lime kiln structure contained evidence of limestone extraction and firing. While these structures were located near one another, there is no evidence they were contemporaneous. The report provides historical background on land use and ownership in the local area from the medieval period through the 17th century, and discusses the excavated structures and artifacts in detail.
This archaeological excavation report describes features found at a site in Mackney, Co. Galway excavated for road works. Prehistoric features included a Bronze Age hearth, three pits and a post-hole dating to the Middle-Late Bronze Age based on radiocarbon dating. Later features consisted of a gully, field boundary ditch and several field drains dating from the 18th century and modern times. While no artifacts were found, the features provide evidence of Bronze Age occupation at this site and in the surrounding area.
This report details the results of an archaeological excavation at a burnt mound site located at Urraghry townland in County Galway. The excavation uncovered a burnt mound, trough, stake-holes, gully, and paleochannel. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples indicated Early Bronze Age activity on the site. Mesolithic stone tools were also found, suggesting earlier occupation. The site contributes to understanding prehistoric settlement patterns in the area, with five Bronze Age sites excavated along this portion of a new road development.
The site consisted of two concentrations of burnt mound material spread over an area of 20 m2 and an off-centre trough that was possibly originally plank-lined.
The two cut features excavated at Dungeer were small pits that were used for metalworking. Both pits demonstrated evidence of oxidisation and had fills which contained slag. The analysis of industrial residues confirmed that these were bowl furnaces used for smelting ore. The only metal type worked at the site was iron, with bog ore almost certainly the main raw material.
This site probably represents evidence of domestic occupation. Based on comparative evidence and the absence of any artefacts it has been assigned a prehistoric date. It may form either a corner from a fence line or may form part of a more complex structure such as a dwelling house. Rectangular houses are
known from the Neolithic through to the Bronze Age, and from the early historic period onwards.
The site at Ballyvergin comprised one hearth, two ditches, twenty-five stakeholes and a number of pits, some of which may have acted as troughs. It was located close to a stream and heat-shattered stones and charcoal were found in several of the deposits. The site has therefore been interpreted as a burnt mound, although the identification of troughs is tentative. The area of excavation was truncated by later (modern) field ditches.
Two distinct features were recorded on the western and eastern side of the route of the N8 during topsoil striping prior to the construction of the temporary realignment of the R614. Site A a Bronze Age / Iron Age ring ditch was located to the west of the N8 and Site B an Early Bronze Age enclosure was located to the east in Ballybrowney Lower.
Site A has been identified as a ring-ditch with an internal diameter of 4.25m. Cremated human bone was recorded in the fills of the ring ditch. It is likely to be associated with the large Bronze Age/Iron Age site on the route of the N8 to the north-east which was excavated by E. Cotter in 2003. The site included four enclosures, three circular houses and a medieval corn-drying kiln. The site was truncated by several levelled field boundaries, probably 18th in origin (Cotter 2004, 38).
Site B was a continuation of an Early Bronze Age enclosure partially excavated by E.Cotter in 2003. As it was not going to be disturbed it was not excavated but recorded, planned and covered.
Archaeological excavations in Harristown Big townland revealed a number of anomalous archaeological features within an excavated area of c. 100 m2. A total of 33 excavated contexts were recorded including stake-holes, pits and a post-hole.
The site comprised a total of eight features, located in two areas approximately 15 m. apart but clearly relating to the same activity. One feature represented recent agricultural disturbance. Of the seven remaining features, five contained traces of burnt bone with charcoal, suggesting the presence of cremation deposits. A large spread of burnt material was also observed, lying in a shallow cut.
This report details the results of an archaeological excavation of a disturbed ringfort (GA087-177) in Loughbown, County Galway. The excavation revealed evidence of Iron Age activity pre-dating the construction of the enclosure. Features excavated included a sub-circular structure, a causeway, entrance, internal bank, and a V-shaped external ditch enclosing the site. Radiocarbon dates from charcoal samples spanned the 4th century BC to the 17th century AD. Few artefacts were recovered, including a bracelet, quernstone, and knife blade. The excavation helped further the understanding of the construction and occupation of the site from the Iron Age period through the medieval period.
This report details an archaeological excavation of an isolated hearth feature located in Bricketstown, Co. Wexford during construction of the N25 road. The hearth consisted of a charcoal-rich spread overlying three deposits within an irregular oval cut that had been heavily truncated by previous groundworks. Radiocarbon dating placed the hearth in the Iron Age period between 500 BC-500 AD. It was one of few Iron Age sites identified in County Wexford to date.
The site occurs within an area where a cluster of Bronze Age fulachta fiadh sites have been identified.
Three burnt mounds were recorded (CO019-019, -020 and -021) within 500m of the site, while two other burnt mounds were excavated as part of this road project; Stagpark 2 (04E1121) was 800m away to the north and Mitchelstown 2 (04E1071) was 2km to the north. The intense use of this small area for the purposes of heating stones and water has produced a date range that suggests occupation on a long-term, if perhaps intermittent basis from at least the Early Bronze Age. The lower heavier wetter ground in the area was used for sites such as these. With the exception of the burnt mound at Mitchelstown 2, which was located on the northern bank of the Gradoge River, the remaining burnt mounds are not located adjacent to any known or contemporary water sources. The underlying subsoil is however a heavy clay which holds water very effectively being almost impermeable. The archaeological evidence indicates that contemporary Early Bronze Age occupation occurred on the higher drier ground, at Stagpark 1 (04E1120) 600m to the north. An extensive occupation site, dating to the Middle Bronze Age, was located on a limestone ridge on the northern bank of the Gradoge River at Mitchelstown 1 (04E1072) 2.8km to the north.
The document reports on an archaeological excavation at Ballydowny in Killarney, County Kerry. Five cooking pits (fulachta fiadh), a ring ditch containing a cremation burial, two medieval iron working areas, and a prehistoric site with evidence of copper working were uncovered. Radiocarbon dating indicates occupation from the Neolithic period through the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and into the early medieval period. The excavation revealed remnants of iron smelting and smithing, as well as five cooking pits that were likely used for boiling or steaming food. A ring ditch and associated cremation burial were also found, dating to the Bronze Age.
The site at Scartbarry has been identified as a Late Bronze Age burnt mound where hot stone technology was used but there is no definite evidence from this site to indicate the specific purpose of heating stones and water in the area; the technology could have been utilised in a variety of processes from cooking and bathing to fulling, felting, boat building and many other industrial processes. The site is just one of many similar monuments that have been discovered in the general area in recent years and it contributes to the widespread evidence for use of hot stones and water in the area in prehistory.
This report constitutes the final excavation report for a porrly preserved burnt mound in the townland of Ballinillaun, Co. Galway (Fig 1). The site was excavated as part of the archaeological excavation programme in advance of construction for N18 Gort to Oranmore Road scheme. The site was found within the CPO for the scheme during Phase 1 archaeological testing.
This site consisted of a poorly preserved, Early Bronze Age, burnt mound. Three pits were excavated and all the fills of the pits contained large proportions of charcoal and heatshattered limestone. A radiocarbon date of cal BC 1934–1773 were obtained from basal fill of a trough. This was one of a series of burnt mounds which clustered in Ballinillaun, Moyveela and Colwood which were located adjacent to a number of turloughs.
Archaeological Test Excavation Report E2003 Ballybrowney, N8 RFJohn Tierney
Two main areas of high archaeological significance were identified during the testing of the proposed route option A. These were a sub rectangular enclosure and the upstanding enclosure elements of the ringfort.
The outer bank and ditch of the ringfort are still intact to a large degree and are visible on the surface within the CPO line. The area is heavily overgrown with mature and semi-mature trees and a dense understorey of secondary growth. Despite this, and despite having been truncated by the insertion of a trackway cutting through the outer bank and the construction of a stone revetment and drain on its southern side, the outer enclosing elements of the ringfort are to a large degree extant.
The insertion of a modern trackway in this location would have a severe negative impact on the northern enclosing elements of the ringfort.
The excavation uncovered the disturbed remains of, an undated, burnt mound with no
other associated archaeological features. The burnt mound was disturbed by land improvement
works which were undertaken during the 1980s. A small assemblage of animal
bone was recovered from the burnt mound. Two chert flakes and a barbed-and-tanged
flint arrowhead were recovered from possible buried topsoil which survived in places below
the burnt mound deposit.
Similar to Archaeological Excavation Report - E2448 Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway (20)
The Historic Graves Project involves community volunteers conducting archaeological surveys of historic graveyards. Volunteers use GPS cameras and audio recorders to photograph, document, and map over 1,200 headstones across 11 graveyards over two years. For each graveyard, the project creates a folder with a register of graves, a sketch map, contact sheets of photographs, and record sheets. The goal is to explore, protect, and promote awareness of Ireland's historic graveyards.
Public talk by John Tierney on recent work on the O'Daly Bardic School, Dromnea, Sheepshead, Cork and outlining a strategy for community-led heritage projects.
An Introduction to the Ballyhoura Peter Robinson Assisted Emigration ProjectJohn Tierney
This document provides an overview of a genealogical tourism project led by Dr. Paul MacCotter and John Tierney to document the history of families that took part in the Peter Robinson Assisted Emigration from Ireland to Canada in the 1820s-1830s. The project involves surveying graveyards and mapping homestead locations to build an online geolocated database of records. The goal is to help descendants research their ancestry and trace the places their families lived before emigrating. Methods for collecting, organizing, and publishing the historical data online are discussed.
Mendicity Institute Transmission book June-August 1882John Tierney
The document discusses the benefits of meditation for reducing stress and anxiety. Regular meditation practice can help calm the mind and body by lowering heart rate and blood pressure. Studies have shown that meditating for just 10-20 minutes per day can have significant positive impacts on both mental and physical health over time.
From headstone to homestead - crowdsourcing & heritage in IrelandJohn Tierney
This document outlines John Tierney's work with Eachtra Archaeological Projects surveying historic graves and homesteads in Ireland. It provides guidance on conducting graveyard surveys through sketch plans, geotagged photos, and record sheets. It also describes a process for identifying historic homesteads through reconnaissance, geotagged photographs, and publishing findings online and in a shared spreadsheet. The goal is to link Irish emigrant communities both within Ireland through shared heritage sites and records, and with communities abroad where emigrants settled.
Human remains of 48 individuals were discovered and excavated during works associated with the Tuam Town Water Supply Scheme in Toberjarlath townland on the eastern edges of Tuam, County Galway. The burials were located within the bounds of the former Tuam Union Workhouse, which opened in 1846. Eighteen grave pits containing between two and four burials each were uncovered. Analysis showed the individuals were paupers buried in the former workhouse grounds in the 19th century. A section of the workhouse boundary wall and internal ditch were also excavated.
Slides from John Tierney's talk on exploring the heritage of Ardmore in the era of digital research and publication. This talk is part of the www.reyndr.com project being developed by Eachtra in association with a number of community groups.
Community Genealogy in Ireland - Historic GravesJohn Tierney
Community engagement in historic graveyard surveys has a multiplier effect. What started as an archaeological survey of headstones has become community genealogy and local history. This talk was presented to the Irish Genealogical Research Society AGM in May 2013.
The Historic Graves Project is a community collaboration that aims to promote genealogical tourism by pinpointing family names and histories across centuries in graveyards in southeast Cork, Ireland. Volunteers record information from historic graveyards to share online and create puzzles and stories to engage people in learning about the people and families represented in each place through time.
Following the discovery of human remains during archaeological monitoring of engineering trial pits in Sawpit Lane a 1 m wide trench was excavated along Sawpit Lane, Church Lane and The Mall in advance of pipelaying associated with the Tuam Town Water Supply in July 2010. The remains of 15 individuals were recorded and excavated along with a series of ditches and pits. A stone culvert and the remains of a boundary wall were also identified. Two of the skeletons and a bone fragment from the base of one of the ditches returned calibrated radiocarbon dates centring on the seventh century. In addition a smithing hearth cake typical of early iron smithing was recovered from the upper fill of the ditch along with a bone trial motif piece which has sixth/seventh century parallels. The other pits and ditches had fills containing relatively mixed finds and animal bone fragments. The excavated features are located outside the present Temple Jarlath enclosure in the middle of Tuam and close to the site of the early medieval market area and the site of the post-medieval shambles. The pits may have acted as refuse pits for waste and the ditches may have demarcated areas or being used as open drains. The early burial evidence and the early possible enclosing ditch coupled with reports of an early unclassified cross slab suggest that the graveyard and enclosure at Temple Jarlath may be associated with St Jarlath’s original early Christian foundation.
This document provides an archaeological excavation report for Adare Castle in County Limerick, Ireland. It includes:
- A history of Adare Castle from its origins in the medieval period through different periods of occupation.
- A description and maps showing the location of the castle and areas excavated between 2001-2006, including the drawbridge, moat, kitchen, great hall, and two domestic areas.
- Results of the excavations including structures like walls, drains, and pits uncovered, along with artifacts found consisting of pottery, wood, bone, stone, metal, glass and leather objects.
- Environmental evidence from animal bones, plant remains, and shells analyzed to understand life at
Archaeological Report - 50-60 South Main Street, Wexford, Co. WexfordJohn Tierney
Occupation evidence dating to the 13th century and later post medieval activity, in the form of a well and boundary wall, associated with the demolished buildings on Peter Street was excavated. The medieval activity was recorded at the central southern part of the site. The area of excavation measured 11.5m north-south by 12m east-west.
All the pits in the excavation trench were medieval in date and are likely to have served as rubbish dumps. The artefactual material and the faunal remains recovered from the various fills would support this hypothesis. There was no evidence that they were used for industrial practises, though waste material from industrial activity was mixed with domestic refuse. They were located in the area of the medieval house burgage plots. No evidence of medieval structures was recorded. It is likely to exist under the foundations of the existing upstanding structures on South Main Street.
The pottery assemblage from the site was examined by the ceramic specialist Clare McCutcheon. The majority of the pottery consisted of local and Irish wares, comprising of Lenister Cooking ware, Wexford-type coarse ware, ware, fine ware and cooking ware. The English wares consisted of Minety-type, Ham Green and Redcliffe wares. The Wexford-type wares indicate local pottery production, although no medieval pottery kilns have as yet been located in Wexford. The French wares particularly the Saintonge ware, from the southwest of France, jugs, represented the wealthier tastes.
Archaeological Report - IDA Arklow Business & Technology Park, Ballynattin, C...John Tierney
The site was excavated under licence no. 04E0712. It was divided into ten areas of excavation: Areas 1-6, Area 6W, Area 7, Area 10 and Area 12.The earliest evidence for human activity was an Early Neolithic radiocarbon date obtained from the fill of a ditch in Area 6. However, there is no evidence for associated Early Neolithic activity. Most of the archaeological features excavated at Ballynattin were Bronze Age. Bronze Age pits were found in Area 6W, there was a spread of Bronze Age material in Area 3 and three partial Bronze Age structures were found in Areas 6 and 7. These were truncated and approximately only one third of each structure survived for excavation. A furnace excavated in Area 2 may also be Bronze Age in date; it has no associated radiocarbon dates but a saddle quern and flints were found within the furnace fill. The remaining features excavated at the site were primarily post-medieval, including a hearth excavated in Area 4, drains and ditches (Areas 1, 4 and 5) and a 19th century cobbled surface (Area 5).
The site consisted of a sub-circular enclosure with a diameter of approximately 36 m; it was initially identified as a crop mark on an aerial photograph, with no trace at ground level. Three sides of the enclosure were formed by two ditches (recorded as the ‘east ditch’ and the ‘west ditch’). The fourth side was characterised by large pits/postholes and slot trenches which probably continued the line of the enclosure, despite the absence of a ditch. The enclosure surrounded a Bronze Age settlement site, with a sub-circular post and stake-built structure excavated near the centre of the enclosed area and an ancillary structure to the west. This report details the results of excavation at the site and the descriptions are broken down into context complexes: the enclosure, the internal structure, the ancillary building, other internal features and external features.
The greatest proportion of archaeological features encountered at Shandon relate to Medieval activity. While nothing dateable was recovered from the sub-rectangular enclosure ditch itself, the discovery of 12th/13th century pottery from features inside and immediately outside the enclosure provides a strong case that the ditch is contemporaneous.
It must be considered a possibility that the enclosure at Shandon is a Medieval moated site. The latter have been defined as “all rectangular enclosures bounded by banks and moats of Medieval date, whether they enclosed a major house or simply a garden or cattle pen” (Barry 1987, 84). While there was no definite evidence of a bank at Shandon, there is a suggestion that one may have existed. Moated sites date to the 13th and 14th century (ibid., 85) and the local pottery found at Shandon overlaps with this date range.
It must also be considered that the Shandon enclosure relates to Hiberno-Norse activity. Prior to the present work, the motif piece was the sole indicator of such activity. However, this find is now further substantiated by the discovery of an 11th century Hiberno-Norse coin (Plate 12). Because of preservation by redesign and avoidance, a large proportion of archaeological features at Shandon were not excavated and consequently it is quite possible that further diagnostic Hiberno-Norse material survives on the site. However, one coin and a trial piece do not a Hiberno-Norse settlement make and it is plausible that the coin was deposited in Anglo-Norman times long after its original period of manufacture and use.
Eachtra archaeological projects undertook excavation of Stratham’s garage in January and February of 2005 under licence 99E0757, an extension to a pre-existing licence. In total some eighty pits were excavated with a small number of linear features and post-medieval wall foundations, drains and a cobbled surface also present. There was no evidence for a medieval structure in this area of the site and many of the pits were filled with refuse. The excavated area was interpreted as the partial remains of four medieval burgage plots. Recent excavations of the area immediately north and adjacent to this site will hopefully provide material comparable to the results from the Stratham’s Garage site.
The buildings to the rear of 26 Patrick St. were demolished. The area of the extension to the rear to the hotel measured 20m by 13m. The area of excavation was bounded by a stone wall to the south, by a building site to the north and west and by the Georgian building, 26 Patrick St., due for refurbishment to the east.
Occupation evidence dating to the 13th century and later post medieval activity associated with the demolished extension to 26 Patrick St. was excavated. The medieval activity was recorded at the western side of the site. Post-medieval construction, associated with the red brick foundations of the extension to the rear of the Georgian building which fronts onto Patrick St., had truncated medieval activity at the eastern end. The destroyed earlier medieval activity is evidenced by the occurrence of both medieval and post-medieval pottery in the same strata.
Most of the archaeological features recorded during this excavation were pits, 26 in total, two walls and a well were also excavated.
Most of the contexts were dated according to the artefacts retrieved from their fills. Therefore, pits with exclusively or almost exclusively medieval pottery were classified as medieval, whereas pits with medieval and post-medieval finds were classified as post-medieval. However, as most of the excavated features were backfilled, it is possible that some of the cut features that contained deposits, with inclusions of post-medieval artefacts, were actually open and in use in the medieval period.
The remains uncovered can be divided into medieval, post-medieval and modern. The pits were in general sub-circular and oval in plan, and, with the exception of pit C.98, were on average 2.06 m in length by 1.36 m in width by 0.61 m in depth. The fills of the pits were a mix of dark grey brown silty clay with occasional inclusions of animal bone and pottery. A total of 26 pits, two walls and a well were recorded.
Beyond Degrees - Empowering the Workforce in the Context of Skills-First.pptxEduSkills OECD
Iván Bornacelly, Policy Analyst at the OECD Centre for Skills, OECD, presents at the webinar 'Tackling job market gaps with a skills-first approach' on 12 June 2024
Philippine Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) CurriculumMJDuyan
(𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝟏𝟎𝟎) (𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟏)-𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐬
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐏𝐏 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬:
- Understand the goals and objectives of the Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) curriculum, recognizing its importance in fostering practical life skills and values among students. Students will also be able to identify the key components and subjects covered, such as agriculture, home economics, industrial arts, and information and communication technology.
𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫:
-Define entrepreneurship, distinguishing it from general business activities by emphasizing its focus on innovation, risk-taking, and value creation. Students will describe the characteristics and traits of successful entrepreneurs, including their roles and responsibilities, and discuss the broader economic and social impacts of entrepreneurial activities on both local and global scales.
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering.pptxDenish Jangid
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering
Syllabus
Chapter-1
Introduction to objective, scope and outcome the subject
Chapter 2
Introduction: Scope and Specialization of Civil Engineering, Role of civil Engineer in Society, Impact of infrastructural development on economy of country.
Chapter 3
Surveying: Object Principles & Types of Surveying; Site Plans, Plans & Maps; Scales & Unit of different Measurements.
Linear Measurements: Instruments used. Linear Measurement by Tape, Ranging out Survey Lines and overcoming Obstructions; Measurements on sloping ground; Tape corrections, conventional symbols. Angular Measurements: Instruments used; Introduction to Compass Surveying, Bearings and Longitude & Latitude of a Line, Introduction to total station.
Levelling: Instrument used Object of levelling, Methods of levelling in brief, and Contour maps.
Chapter 4
Buildings: Selection of site for Buildings, Layout of Building Plan, Types of buildings, Plinth area, carpet area, floor space index, Introduction to building byelaws, concept of sun light & ventilation. Components of Buildings & their functions, Basic concept of R.C.C., Introduction to types of foundation
Chapter 5
Transportation: Introduction to Transportation Engineering; Traffic and Road Safety: Types and Characteristics of Various Modes of Transportation; Various Road Traffic Signs, Causes of Accidents and Road Safety Measures.
Chapter 6
Environmental Engineering: Environmental Pollution, Environmental Acts and Regulations, Functional Concepts of Ecology, Basics of Species, Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Hydrological Cycle; Chemical Cycles: Carbon, Nitrogen & Phosphorus; Energy Flow in Ecosystems.
Water Pollution: Water Quality standards, Introduction to Treatment & Disposal of Waste Water. Reuse and Saving of Water, Rain Water Harvesting. Solid Waste Management: Classification of Solid Waste, Collection, Transportation and Disposal of Solid. Recycling of Solid Waste: Energy Recovery, Sanitary Landfill, On-Site Sanitation. Air & Noise Pollution: Primary and Secondary air pollutants, Harmful effects of Air Pollution, Control of Air Pollution. . Noise Pollution Harmful Effects of noise pollution, control of noise pollution, Global warming & Climate Change, Ozone depletion, Greenhouse effect
Text Books:
1. Palancharmy, Basic Civil Engineering, McGraw Hill publishers.
2. Satheesh Gopi, Basic Civil Engineering, Pearson Publishers.
3. Ketki Rangwala Dalal, Essentials of Civil Engineering, Charotar Publishing House.
4. BCP, Surveying volume 1
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
إضغ بين إيديكم من أقوى الملازم التي صممتها
ملزمة تشريح الجهاز الهيكلي (نظري 3)
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀
تتميز هذهِ الملزمة بعِدة مُميزات :
1- مُترجمة ترجمة تُناسب جميع المستويات
2- تحتوي على 78 رسم توضيحي لكل كلمة موجودة بالملزمة (لكل كلمة !!!!)
#فهم_ماكو_درخ
3- دقة الكتابة والصور عالية جداً جداً جداً
4- هُنالك بعض المعلومات تم توضيحها بشكل تفصيلي جداً (تُعتبر لدى الطالب أو الطالبة بإنها معلومات مُبهمة ومع ذلك تم توضيح هذهِ المعلومات المُبهمة بشكل تفصيلي جداً
5- الملزمة تشرح نفسها ب نفسها بس تكلك تعال اقراني
6- تحتوي الملزمة في اول سلايد على خارطة تتضمن جميع تفرُعات معلومات الجهاز الهيكلي المذكورة في هذهِ الملزمة
واخيراً هذهِ الملزمة حلالٌ عليكم وإتمنى منكم إن تدعولي بالخير والصحة والعافية فقط
كل التوفيق زملائي وزميلاتي ، زميلكم محمد الذهبي 💊💊
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
This presentation was provided by Racquel Jemison, Ph.D., Christina MacLaughlin, Ph.D., and Paulomi Majumder. Ph.D., all of the American Chemical Society, for the second session of NISO's 2024 Training Series "DEIA in the Scholarly Landscape." Session Two: 'Expanding Pathways to Publishing Careers,' was held June 13, 2024.
This document provides an overview of wound healing, its functions, stages, mechanisms, factors affecting it, and complications.
A wound is a break in the integrity of the skin or tissues, which may be associated with disruption of the structure and function.
Healing is the body’s response to injury in an attempt to restore normal structure and functions.
Healing can occur in two ways: Regeneration and Repair
There are 4 phases of wound healing: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. This document also describes the mechanism of wound healing. Factors that affect healing include infection, uncontrolled diabetes, poor nutrition, age, anemia, the presence of foreign bodies, etc.
Complications of wound healing like infection, hyperpigmentation of scar, contractures, and keloid formation.
This presentation was provided by Rebecca Benner, Ph.D., of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, for the second session of NISO's 2024 Training Series "DEIA in the Scholarly Landscape." Session Two: 'Expanding Pathways to Publishing Careers,' was held June 13, 2024.
Temple of Asclepius in Thrace. Excavation resultsKrassimira Luka
The temple and the sanctuary around were dedicated to Asklepios Zmidrenus. This name has been known since 1875 when an inscription dedicated to him was discovered in Rome. The inscription is dated in 227 AD and was left by soldiers originating from the city of Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv).
2. Draft Archaeological Excavation Report,
Cooltymurraghy,
Co. Galway
Burnt mound / Fulacht fiadh site
June 2009
Client: National Roads Design Office,
Galway County Council
E No.: E2448
Ministerial Order No.: A024
Licensee: John Tierney
Contact details:
The Forge,
Innishannon, Co. Cork.
Written by: Mick Drumm Tel.: 021 470 16 16
David Fallon Fax: 021 470 16 28
E-mail: info@eachtra.ie
Web Site: www.eachtra.ie
3. E2448 | A024 Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Table of Contents
i Summary ............................................................................................................ iv
ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................. iv
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................1
2 Site Location, Topography and Soils ....................................................................1
3 Background to the Development .........................................................................1
4 Archaeological and Historical Background .........................................................2
4.1 Prehistoric period ...............................................................................................2
5 Results of Excavation ...........................................................................................5
5.1 Burnt spread.......................................................................................................5
5.2 Water channel ....................................................................................................5
5.3 Artefacts.............................................................................................................5
5.4 Charred plant remains .......................................................................................5
5.5 Charcoal ...........................................................................................................6
5.6 Radiocarbon dates..............................................................................................6
6 Discussion ...........................................................................................................6
7 Bibliography ........................................................................................................9
7.1 Websites ............................................................................................................10
8 Figures ................................................................................................................11
9 Plates .................................................................................................................. 15
10 Appendices .........................................................................................................18
10.1 Appendix 1: Stratigraphic Register ...................................................................19
11.2 Appendix 2: Stratigraphic Matrix .....................................................................21
10.3 Appendix 3: Groups and Sub-groups text ..........................................................22
10.4 Appendix 4: Plant remains analysis ..................................................................25
10.4 Appendix 5: Charcoal analysis ..........................................................................26
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List of Figures
Figure 1: Discovery series OS map showing the route of the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road
(Contract 4) and the location of all excavation sites .............................................................. 10
Figure 2: The route of the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road (Contract 4) overlaid on the 1st
edition OS map..................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 3: The route of the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road (Contract 4) overlaid on the
RMP map ............................................................................................................................. 12
Figure 4: Post-excavation plan of the site at Cooltymurraghy E2448 .................................. 13
List of Plates
Plate 1: General landscape shot of area around the site ........................................................ 14
Plate 2: Drain to the east of the site, from west ................................................................... 14
Plate 3: Pre-excavation shot of burnt spread (C.7) from west ............................................... 15
Plate 4: Section through burnt spread (C.7) from south ...................................................... 15
Plate 5: Water channel (C.16) cut through burnt spread from north-west ........................... 16
Plate 6: Water channel (C.16) cut through burnt spread from south ................................... 16
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i Summary
The sites excavated at Cooltymurraghy E2448 comprised a burnt spread which was cut by a
later water channel. Although there was no trough associated with the spread, the site was in-
terpreted as a burnt mound and charcoal yielded an Early Bronze Age date, in common with
material from other, more conventional burnt mound sites nearby. This is one of five Bronze
Age sites excavated along this portion of the new road.
Townland Cooltymurraghy
Civil Parish Aughrim
Barony Kilconnell
County Galway
Ministerial Order no. A024
E no. E2448
OS Map Sheet GA087
National Grid Co-ordinates 177716 228176
Elevation 70 m OD
Site type Burnt mound
ii Acknowledgements
The licence holder was John Tierney and the fieldwork crew included Mick Drumm, Mar-
cella Loughman, David Fallon, Lesley Davidson and Rafal Wolanski. Illustrations are by Ben
Blakeman, Lesley Davidson, Enda O’Mahony and Robin Turk. Report compilation was by
Anluan Dunne. Specialist analysis was carried out by Mary Dillon and the 14 Chrono Cen-
tre at Queen’s University Belfast. The project was commissioned by Galway County Council
and was funded the National Roads Authority under the National Development Plan (2000-
2006). The project archaeologist was Jerry O’Sullivan and the assistant project archaeologist
was Martin Jones.
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1 Introduction
This report comprises the final excavation report for a burnt mound found at Cooltymur-
raghy, Co. Galway during archaeological testing within the lands acquired for the new N6
Galway to Ballinasloe dual carriageway road (O’Donoghue et al. 2006, Figure 1). The site
comprised a spread of burnt mound material and a later water channel. Charcoal from the
mound yielded an Early Bronze Age radiocarbon date.
2 Site Location, Topography and Soils
The site was located in the townland of Cooltymurraghy at NGR 177716, 228176, 1.5 km
west of Aughrim. It was identified as A024/035 and was excavated under licence number
E2448. The site was located in low-lying pasture land punctuated by limestone outcrops
(Plate 1). The area immediately surrounding the site was prone to flooding and a drain to the
east of the site (Plate 2) may have been dug to alleviate water-logging. The site was located on
soils classified as grey brown podzolics, with associated brown earths, gleys and basin peat.
These soils have a moderately wide use range and are good for cereal, fruit and vegetable cul-
tivation (Gardiner & Radford 1980).
The solid bedrock is Middle to Upper Carboniferous Limestones, with Calp Limestones
predominating in the area of this site. The Quaternary deposits in the region are undulating
glacial drift with some post-glacial peat and alluvial deposits. Trial pitting for the Environ-
mental Impact Assessment report indicated that the subsoil in the area of Cooltymurraghy
included both clayey and sandy till.
3 Background to the Development
The excavation was undertaken by Eachtra Archaeological Projects for Galway County Coun-
cil and the National Roads Authority and forms part of wider programme of archaeological
excavations undertaken by Eachtra within approximately 15 km of the proposed N6 Galway
to Ballinasloe dual carriageway scheme (Contract 4, Figures 1-3).
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4 Archaeological and Historical Background
4.1 Prehistoric period
Mesolithic material has now been identified from a small number of sites in western Con-
nacht and in particular material has been identified on the major river and lake systems.
Lough Corrib stands out as a centre of outstanding importance for looking at both Mesolith-
ic settlement and the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition (Gibbons et al. 2004). The artefactual
location bias suggests that the Lough Corrib catchment area was a population centre in the
later Mesolithic period. The finding of a Bann flake at Oranmore confirms that there was a
human presence to the east of the Corrib in the late Mesolithic. No definite Mesolithc site
has as yet been identified in east Galway but there are flint artefacts that probably date to the
Mesolithic from burnt mound sites excavated by Eachtra Archaeological Projects at Barna-
cragh (E2446) and Urraghry (E2449).
The Neolithic or new stone age began around 4000 BC when the first farmers came in search
of pasture for their livestock and arable land in which to grow their grain. Ireland was then
heavily forested so it was necessary for these farmers to engage in forest clearance. This they
did with polished stone axeheads hafted in wooden handles. A number of stone axes have
been recovered from along the valley of the river Suck and around the Ballinasloe area in
general (Henry 1992, 37-38), indicating activity in the area during the Neolithic.
The Neolithic period also saw new developments in ritual activity, in particular the build-
ing of megalithic tombs. Only seven Neolithic tombs are recorded for the whole of north
Galway (as defined by Vol 2 of the Archaeological inventory of Co. Galway), which includes
the barony of Clonmacowen, and these are limited to court tombs and wedge tombs (Alcock
et al. 1999, 1). There is no published inventory for south Galway. No megalithic tombs are
recorded from the area around Balinasloe and Aughrim; the closest concentration is a group
of four tombs identified around the limestone plains of Monivea.
The erection of large more or less unhewn stones, often in prominent locations, was a wide-
spread custom in prehistoric Ireland and elsewhere in western Europe. These take the form
of stone circles, stone rows, stone pairs and single or isolated standing stones. Single standing
stones may have had a wide variety of uses ranging from route or boundary markers to burial
memorials. Two standing stones (RMP GA098:031 and GA087:023) are located around
Aughrim, one of which is reputed to be associated with a stone axehead (Alcock et al. 1999,
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8. E2448 | A024 Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
17).
During the Bronze Age metal was extracted and worked for the first time. Bronze Age axes
and a dagger have been found in the area round Ballinasloe and a bronze spear head (NMI
1986:19) and dirk (NMI 1986:16) were recovered from the river Suck during drainage opera-
tions in the 1880s (information from the National Museum of Ireland Topographical files).
Underwater investigation of the site of Correen Ford, on the river Suck, identified a Late
Bronze Age sword which was found close to a portion of a pottery vessel, perhaps of the same
age (Kelly 1989). Coreen Ford was probably one of the main crossing points on the Suck in
prehistory and early history.
A variety of burial monuments date to the Bronze Age period, including cairns, tumuli and
barrows. A cairn is a mound of stone often used to cover burials, and a tumulus is a mound
of earth used for the same purpose. Barrows are burial monuments which usually consist of
a circular central area, which may be flat or slightly dished (a ring ditch), or domed (a ring
barrow), and which is enclosed by a ditch and occasionally by an external bank. Excavated
Bronze Age burials include interments in cists, in pits lined with stone flags, and in simple
pits, some of which were accompanied by pottery or other grave goods. These can be placed
in tumuli, cairns or barrows, but can also be set within ‘natural’ monuments, such as sand
ridges, or can appear in flat cemeteries, with no above ground marker at all (Waddell 1990,
1).
A total of 22 cairns and tumuli, 10 isolated cist and pit graves and 31 barrows are known
from north Galway (Alcock et al. 1999, 4 & 12). A significant concentration of Early Bronze
Age features can be recognised in the area between Athenry, Tuam and Headford; however,
very few burials or cairns have been identified in the areas around Ballinasloe and Aughrim.
The most common Bronze Age monuments are burnt mounds. They are represented by small
mounds of burnt stone, which were fired in order to heat water in a pit dug into a marshy
area, the stones being discarded once they had cooled. The function of these monuments has
been the source of much debate with various theories being expounded including cooking,
washing and relaxation. Three burnt mounds have been excavated by Eachtra Archaeological
Projects at this site at Cooltymurraghy (E2448), Barnacragh (E2446) and Urraghry (E2449).
A Bronze Age settlement site (E2445) was also excavated in Mackney townland and Bronze
Age dates were retrieved from another site in Mackney (E2443). These are important addi-
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9. E2448 | A024 Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
tions to the recorded prehistoric landscape in east Galway.
We know almost nothing of Irish Iron Age settlement and burial outside the major complexes
of royal ritual sites and a small number of burial sites that may be Iron Age in date. Deficien-
cies in our knowledge of the settlements and habitations of ordinary people are so marked
that Raftery referred to the majority of the population as the ‘invisible people’ (1994, 112).
The majority of the evidence for the Iron Age period consists of finds of La Tène decorated
metalwork and some pieces of stone sculpture. Examples of La Tène artefacts/monuments
from east Galway include the Turoe Stone located close to Loughrea and a Late La Tène
metal artefact found at. Rahally hillfort. This hillfort was excavated along the route of the
new N6 Galway to Ballinalsoe road (Contract 3) and the evidence indicates settlement in
prehistoric and medieval times (Mullins in progress). Iron Age radiocarbon dates were ob-
tained from excavations at an enclosure site at Loughbown 2, also excavated along the route
of the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road (Contract 4). However, medieval dates were also
obtained from Loughbown 2 and the exact nature of occupation at the site during the Iron
Age is uncertain.
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5 Results of Excavation
This site comprised a burnt mound (a concentration of heat-shattered stone) and a later wa-
ter channel. These were found within an area of excavation that measured 150 sq m (Figure
4). There was no evidence for a trough or any ancillary features under the mound or in the
surrounding area. Full details are recorded in the stratigraphic index (Appendix 1), the strati-
graphic matrix (Appendix 2) and the groups and sub-groups text (Appendix 3). The following
is an interpretative summary of the archaeological remains from the site.
5.1 Burnt spread
The burnt spread (C.7) measured 5.26 m east/west and 3.40 m north/south and ranged in
depth from 0.06 to 0.17 m (Plate 3). The spread consisted of dark black sandy silt with fre-
quent angular heat-shattered stone fragments and small charcoal flecks (Plate 4). Specialist
analysis of the charcoal from a bulk sample of the burnt spread identified oak, alder, and ash
(Appendix 5). The burnt spread was cut by a water channel (C.16) which ran north-west to
south-east. This burnt spread has been interpreted as the remains of a burnt mound or fulacht
fiadh, but there is no evidence for the associated trough which is usual at such sites.
5.2 Water channel
The water channel (C.16) ran north-west to south-east across the site and it truncated the
earlier burnt mound (Plates 5 and 6). It continued to the north and south beyond the area
of excavation. It ranged in width from 0.36 m to 0.69 m and had an average depth of 0.1 m.
The sides of the channel or cut had a gentle slope and the base was relatively flat. The chan-
nel probably formed naturally as a result of water action; there is no evidence that it was a
deliberately cut drain.
5.3 Artefacts
No artefacts were recovered from this site.
5.4 Charred plant remains
A total of four samples from this site were examined for charred plant remains by Mary
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list only six examples in West Galway, including one of the excavated examples at Doughiska
(Gosling1993) and 17 are known in the north (Alcock et al. 1999). The inventory for the
south of the county is not yet published. Large scale archaeological works such as the N6
Galway to Ballinasloe road scheme demonstrate that these numbers are under-representative:
this project (Contracts 1-4) involved the excavation of 12 burnt mound sites: at Doughiska,
Furzypark, Clogharevaun, Killescragh, Newford, Caraun More, Barnacragh, Urraghry and
Cooltymurraghy. The distance between the easternmost burnt mound at Barnacragh and the
westernmost site at Doughiska was 47 km and the burnt mounds were spread across almost
the entire length of the new road. However, they were concentrated within land covered by
Contracts 2, 3 and 4, within areas of low-lying damp ground, a characteristic location for
most burnt mound sites.
Traditionally these sites have been interpreted as ancient cooking places, where large stones
were heated in fires and then added to the water-filled trough, the extreme heat of the stones
eventually heating the water in the trough until it reached boiling point. It could be main-
tained at this heat by occasional additions of hot stones. Archaeologists suggest that meat was
covered in straw or a similar wrapping and boiled within the trough. Experimental cooking
at reconstructed sites such as Ballyvourney (O’Kelly 1954) has demonstrated that this could
be achieved quite efficiently. However, the scarcity of animal remains from most excavated
burnt mounds (although there are some exceptions) has left the question of function open to
debate. Other theories on their use include bathing and dyeing textiles together with the pro-
duction of hot water and steam for curative purposes and sweat houses (Ó Drisceoil 1988).
All of these suggestions are speculative as there is virtually no conclusive scientific evidence to
prove or disprove theories about how the sites were used. This may be partly because the sites
that archaeologists describe as burnt mounds were used for several different purposes. We
recognise the sites archaeologically by the remains of charcoal and heat shattered stones but as
Ó Néill (2004) points out, these are the remains of a technology (the use of hot stones known
as ‘pyrolithic technology’), rather than specific indications of the aims of the process.
There was no evidence for a trough at Cooltymurraghy and no indication that the site ex-
tended beyond the limit of the excavation. The absence of a trough at this site suggests that
the purpose of hot stone technology at this site was not associated with heating water unless
water was held in a vessel above ground. On the other hand, this site was situated in damp
and low-lying ground typical of sites where troughs are generally found and the radiocarbon
date from Cooltymurraghy fits in with the Early Bronze Age dates obtained from nearby
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burnt mound sites at Urraghry E2449 and Barnacragh E2446 and troughs were excavated at
both of these sites.
The concentration of Early Bronze Age dates is interesting as most dated burnt mound sites
have a focus of activity in the Middle to Late Bronze Age (Brindley & Lanting 1990; and see
graph of dates in Ó Néill 2004). However, Early Bronze Age dates were returned from four
of the nine burnt mound sites excavated along the route of the N25 Kilmacthomas realign-
ment (Tierney in prep.) and a burnt mound sites at Doughiska, Co. Galway yielded a Late
Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date (Fitzpatrick & Crumlish 2000).
The three burnt mound sites at Urraghry, Barnacragh and Cooltymurraghy and other Bronze
Age sites at Mackney E2445 and E2443 are found within an area where most of the known
monuments date to the historic period (see Figure 3). The results from these sites provide a
starting point for an exploration of Bronze Age settlement and landscape use in this part of
East Galway.
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7 Bibliography
Alcock, O., de hOra, K. and Gosling, P. 1999 Archaeological Inventory of County Galway,
Vol. 2 North Galway. Dublin, The Stationery Office.
Bennett, I. (ed.) 2006 Excavations 2003. Bray, Wordwell.
Brindley, A.L. and Lanting, J.N. 1990 The dating of fulachta fiadh, in Buckley, V. (ed.)
Burnt Offerings. International contributions to burnt mound archaeology, 55-56.
Dublin, Wordwell.
Fitzpatrick, M. and Crumlish, R. 2000 The excavation of three burnt mounds on the
outskirts of Galway city, Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 52,
135-143.
Gardiner, M.J. and Radford, T. 1980 Soil Associations of Ireland and Their Land Use
Potential. Dublin, An Foras Talúntais.
Gibbons, M., Gibbons, M. and Higgins, J. 2004 Mapping the Mesolithic in Western
Connacht, IQUA Newsletter 32, 4-7
Gosling, P. 1993 Archaeological Inventory of County Galway: Vol. 1 West Galway. Dublin,
The Stationery Office.
Henry, M. 1992 Prehistoric Life in Co. Galway: A Distributional Analysis, Journal of the
Galway Hist and Archaeol Society, Vol. 44 (1992), 29-46.
Kelly, E.P. 1989 Ford, in Bennett, I. (ed.) Excavations 1989. Bray, Wordwell.
Mullins, G. In progress Rahally, in Bennett, I. (ed.) Excavations 2006.
O’Donoghue, J., Tierney, J. and Doolan, A. 2006 N6 Galway to Ballinasloe test excavations
report, Centreline testing 4.0, Contract 4 Cloghagalla Eighter Co. Galway to Beagh,
Co. Roscommon. Unpublished report for Eachtra Archaeological Projects submitted
to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Ó Drisceoil, D. 1988 Burnt mounds: cooking or bathing? Antiquity Vol. 62, 671-680).
O’Kelly, M.J. 1954 Excavations and experiments in Irish cooking places, Journal of the
Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland Vol. 84, 105-156.
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15. E2448 | A024 Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Ó Néill, J. 2003/2004 Lapidibus in igne calefactis coquebatur: The historical burnt mound
‘tradition’, Journal of Irish Archaeology Vol. XII & XIII, 79-86.
Raftery, B. 1994 Pagan Celtic Ireland: the enigma of the Irish Iron Age. London, Thames and
Hudson.
Reimer, P.J., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J.W., Bertrand, C., Blackwell,
P.G., Buck, C.E., Burr, G., Cutler, K.B., Damon, P.E., Edwards, R.L., Fairbanks,
R.G., Friedrich, M., Guilderson, T.P., Hughen, K.A., Kromer, B., McCormac,
F.G., Manning, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Reimer, R.W., Remmele, S., Southon, J.R.,
Stuiver, M., Talamo, S., Taylor, F.W., van der Plicht, J. and Weyhenmeyer, C.E. 2004
IntCal04 Terrestrial Radiocarbon Age Calibration, 0–26 Cal Kyr BP, Radiocarbon
46, 1029-1058.
Wadddell, J. 2000 The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland. Bray, Wordwell.
Stuiver, M., and Reimer, P.J. 1993 Extended (super 14) C data base and revised CALIB 3.0
(super 14) C age calibration program, Radiocarbon 35, 215-230.
Tierney, J. In preparation. Excavations along the route of the N25 Kilmacthomas
Realignment.
7.1 Websites
Database of Irish excavations www.excavations.ie
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16. N
E2448 | A024
8
Figures
E2443 A024/31
Mackney
Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway
Pits & ditches
E2449 A024/36
Urraghy E2442 A024/09
Burnt mound
Loughbown I
E2447 A024/34 Ringfort & forge
Coololla
Lime kiln & forge E2444 A024/10
Mackney
Ringfort with skeletal remains
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E2448 A024/35
Cooltymurraghy E2445 A024/32
Burnt mound Mackney
Pits
E2054 A024/21
E2446 A024/33 Loughbown II
Barnacragh Ringfort
Burnt mound
0 2km
Figure 1: Discovery series OS map showing the route of the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road (Contract 4) and the location of all excavation sites
11
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17. E2448 | A024
E2449 A024/36
Urraghy
Burnt mound
E2442 A024/09
Loughbown I
Ringfort & forge
Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway
E2447 A024/34
Coololla
Lime kiln & forge
E2448 A024/35
Cooltymurraghy
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Burnt mound
E2054 A024/21
Loughbown II
E2446 A024/33 Ringfort
Barnacragh
Burnt mound
Figure 2: The route of the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road (Contract 4) overlaid on the 1st edition OS map
12
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18. E2448 | A024
E2442 A024/09
Loughbown I
Ringfort & forge
E2443 A024/31
Mackney
E2447 A024/34
Pits & ditches
Coololla
Lime kiln & forge
E2449 A024/36
Urraghy
Burnt mound
E2444 A024/10
E2448 A024/35 Mackney
Cooltymurraghy Ringfort with skeletal remains
Burnt mound
E2445 A024/32
Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway
E2054 A024/21 Mackney
Loughbown II Pits
Ringfort
E2446 A024/33
Barnacragh
Burnt mound
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Legend
Canal
Folly
Togher
Earthwork
Field system
Burial Ground/Graveyard
Ecclesiastical Site/Holy well
Castle/Tower
Stone Group/Inscibed Stone
Ringfort
Enclosure
Motte
Monument 0 Km 2 Km
Figure 3: The route of the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road (Contract 4) overlaid on the RMP map
13
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19. E2448 | A024 Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
N
2m
0
50 cm
10N
10E
05N
10E
C.16
Figure 4: Post-excavation plan of the site at Cooltymurraghy E2448
C.7
10N
05E
05N
05E
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9 Plates
Plate 1: General landscape shot of area around the site
Plate 2: Drain to the east of the site, from west
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Plate 3: Pre-excavation shot of burnt spread (C.7) from west
Plate 4: Section through burnt spread (C.7) from south
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Plate 5: Water channel (C.16) cut through burnt spread from north-west
Plate 6: Water channel (C.16) cut through burnt spread from south
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24. 10.1 Appendix 1: Stratigraphic Register
E2448 | A024
Context No. Area/GS Drawing No. Type Dimensions (metres) Description Environmental material
1 Site Topsoil 19 x 14.20 x 0.15 Mid brown, firm, clayey silt. Occasional medium sub-angu- No samples
lar pebble inclusions. Overlays (004), (005), (003), (013).
2 Site Bedrock/under- Site Bedrock/underlying geology No samples
lying geology
3 Site 1 Alluvial deposit 9.0 x 14.20 x 0.16 Light greyish brown, hard silt with 20% orange mottling due SS07
to iron panning. Overlays (017), underlays (001).
4 1 Natural deposit 1.20 x 0.12 x 0.1 Very thin layer of iron panning. Overlays (003), underlays No samples
Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway
(001)
5 1 Natural deposit 1.0 x 0.8 x 0.1 Very thin layer of iron panning. Overlays (003), underlays No samples
(001)
6 NE of 1,5 Alluvial deposit 1.90 x 1.80 x 0.14 Mid greyish brown, stiff clayey silt with 25% orange mottling No samples
site due to iron panning. Overlays (007), underlays (003).
7 1, 3 ,4 Charcoal rich 3.40 x 3.0 x 0.17 Dark black, firm, peat. Moderate fine sand inclusions. 25% SS08
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burnt mound angular and sub-angular heat effected stones. Overlays SS09
(008), underlays (006), (016).
8 3,4 Alluvial deposit 1.50 x 1.80 x 0.05 Mid-dark greyish brown, firm, clayey silt. No inclusions. No samples
Overlays (009), underlays (007).
9 4 Organic deposit 3.8 x 2.3 x 0.2 Mid brown, firm, clayey silt. No inclusions. Overlays (015), SS10
underlays (008).
11 6 Geological 1.35 x 0.75 x 0.12 Light white, firm, clayey silt. Moderate large sub-rounded No samples
deposit and rounded stone inclusions. Overlays (014), underlays
(013), (012)
12 6 Natural alluvial 8.0 x 5.4 x depth Mid-dark grey, firm, sandy silt. 50% large sub-angular and No samples
deposit unclear sub-rounded stones. Overlays (011), underlays (003).
13 6 Geological Length unclear x Mid grey, stiff, clayey silt. Occasional large sub-rounded No samples
deposit 0.16 x 0.07 stones. Overlays (011), underlays (003).
14 6 Geological Length unclear x Mid grey, compact, fine sand. No inclusions. No samples
deposit 0.07 x 0.04
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25. Context No. Area/GS Drawing No. Type Dimensions (metres) Description Environmental material
E2448 | A024
15 6 Geological 10.0 x 8.0 x depth Light yellowish, brownish grey, stiff, silt. Frequent large sub- No samples
deposit unknown rounded and sub-angular stone inclusions. Overlays (019),
underlays (009)
16 6 Natural 9.0 x 0.69 x 0.15 Linear palaeochannel. Break of slope top varies along length,
palaeochannel gradual-sharp. Irregular sides, break of slope base varies
along length, gradual-sharp. Undulating base. Filled by (017),
(003).
17 6 Alluvial deposit 15.0 x 0.54 x <0.1 Light orangish grey, loose, pebbley, coarse sand. 20% me- No samples
dium angular and sub-angular pebble inclusions. Overlays
[016], underlays (003).
Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway
18 6 Fossils 0.26 x 0.24 x 0.10 Tubular fossil “worms” SS13
19 6 2.50 x 0.50 x depth Light brownish grey, compact, silty, fine sand. No inclusions. No samples.
unclear Underlays (015)
SS = Soil sample
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[ ] = Cut
( ) = Fill
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10.3 Appendix 3: Groups and Sub-groups text
10.3.1 Geological deposits
This group describes the natural geological deposits identified within the excavated area.
10.3.1.1 Bedrock
C.2
Description: Bedrock
Interpretation: This describes the natural bedrock.
10.3.1.2 Alluvial deposits
C.3, C.6, C.8, C.12
Description: Deposits of silt, some with orange mottling caused by iron panning (see sub-
group 1.3). There are very few inclusions in any of these deposits. These deposits were laid
down naturally due to water activity in the area.
10.3.1.3 Iron pan deposits
C.4, C.5
Description: Thin layers of iron panning underlying the topsoil and overlying some alluvial
deposits.
10.3.1.4 Geological deposits
C.9, C.11, C.13, C.14, C.15
Description: These were clayey silts that ranged in colour from grey to white. Some of the
deposits contained rounded stones.
Interpretation: These deposits were natural geological deposits.
Group 1 Interpretation
These deposits were naturally laid down.
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10.3.2 Burnt mound
This group describes the burnt mound deposit identified during excavation.
10.3.2.1 Burnt mound deposit
C.8
Description: This was a peaty charcoal rich deposit of burnt material which includes large
amounts of angular heat-affected stones. It measured 3.40 m in length by 3.0 m wide and it
was 0.17 m high.
Interpretation: This deposit represents a burnt mound material where the remains of hot
stone technology was used at the site. As there was no trough at the site, the stones were prob-
ably not used to heat water.
Group 2 Interpretation
This group describes the burnt mound material which was the only deposit of anthropogenic
origin at the site. Such deposits of heat-affected stone and charcoal are indicative of the use
of hot stone technology at the site, but there is no suggestion as to the purpose of this activity
at the site.
10.3.3 Palaeochannel
This group describes the natural palaeochannel and deposits associated with it.
10.3.3.1 Palaeochannel
C.16
Fills C.17
Description:A linear palaeochannel (C.16) had irregular sides and an undulating base. It was
very shallow (less than 0.1 m). It was filled by an alluvial deposit (C.17) with light coarse sand
and inclusions of pebbles.
Interpretation: This was a natural water channel, since dried up, which traversed the area of
excavation. It was later than the activity at the burnt mound, and it is likely that the channel
was not open for a very long as it was very irregular and shallow.
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Group 3 Interpretation
This natural water channel post-dated the burnt mound activity at the site. As the evidence
suggests that the channel was not in use for very long it may simply have carried the water
from one period of heavy rains before it dried up.
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10.4 Appendix 4: Plant remains analysis
By Mary Dillon
10.4.1 Introduction
Four samples were submitted for plant remains analysis from the excavation of a burnt mound
site at Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway.
10.4.2 Methodology
Bulk soil samples were collected on site and were processed post-excavation using a simple
flotation method. Each sample was saturated in water to allow the carbonised plant material
to float, this was then poured off into a series of sieves (1 mm and 250 µm), trapping the ‘flot’
(floating material) which was air-dried and stored in air-tight plastic bags. The flots were sort-
ed and scanned for plant material and charcoal using a low-powered binocular microscope
(magnification x 10 to x 40). Nomenclature and taxonomic orders follows Stace (1997).
10.4.3 Results
None of the samples produced plant remains.
10.4.4 Discussion and Conclusion
The lack of plants remains from this site is not altogether surprising. Burnt mounds and
troughs, although commonly excavated, have yielded practically no plant remains (Penny
Johnston, pers. comm.).
10.4.5 References
Stace, C.A. 1997 New Flora in the British Isles (2nd edition), Cambridge, Cambridge Uni-
versity Press.
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10.5 Appendix 5: Charcoal analysis
By Mary Dillon
10.5.1 Introduction
Site E2448 is located in the townland of Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway. The site comprised
a spread of burnt mound material. Charcoal from the site yielded an Early Bronze Age ra-
diocarbon date. This report deals with the charcoal retrieved from the site and looks at the
information produced on environment and selective use of wood types.
10.5.2 Methodology
Bulk soil samples were collected on site and were processed post-excavation using a simple
flotation method. Each sample was saturated in water to allow the carbonised plant material
to float, which was then poured off into a series of sieves (1 mm and 250 µm), trapping the
‘flot’ (floating material). This was air-dried and stored in air-tight plastic bags. The flots were
sorted and scanned for plant material and charcoal using a low-powered binocular micro-
scope (magnification x 10 to x 40). All charcoal fragments of 2 mm or greater were identified.
Each fragment was prepared for microscopic examination by fracturing it by hand and there-
by exposing a clean surface along transverse, radial and tangential planes. All three planes
were examined at a range of magnifications (x 5 to x 100) under a Nikon stereo microscope.
For reference literature the website ‘wood anatomy’ was consulted. The number and weight
of fragments were recorded for each charcoal type.
10.5.2 Results
In all, 81 charcoal fragments were identified from six samples (Table 1). In Figs 1 and 2 per-
centage frequencies of the various charcoal types based on fragment count and dry weight,
respectively, are shown. The most frequent charcoal type overall is ash at 40% or 51% by
weight. This is followed in descending frequency by alder 22% / 17%, oak 19% /7%, hazel
16% / 22%, holly 3% / 2 % and pomoideae 1% / 1%. When considered on a weight basis the
results change slightly (Fig. 2).
10.5.3 Discussion
Burnt mounds are a common feature of the Irish landscape. Charcoal analysis from burnt
mounds excavated along the Gas Pipeline to the West demonstrates that a range of trees
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were gathered as firewood, particularly alder (Alnus glutinosa), hazel (Corylus avellana), oak
(Quercus spp.) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) (O’Donnell 2005). O’Donnell’s studies suggest the
same wood types were utilized as fuel in burnt mounds across the country, which suggest
that a selection process of some kind was in place. These trees were also common at Kiltotan
Colinstown burnt mound in Co. Westmeath (Dillon 2006) and nearby burnt mound sites
at Barnacragh E2446 and Urraghry E2449 (Dillon 2007a and 2007b). However, the assem-
blage at Cooltymurraghy also contained holly and pomoideae wood types, which were not
found at Barnacragh or Urraghry.
Ash was the most common wood type in the Cooltymurraghy assemblage. It makes great
fuel, burned green or dead, and this may have influenced its selection. According to the pol-
len diagram it was readily available in the locality.
Alder was the second most common wood type. Alder is quite common in the local dia-
gram, but was probably largely confined to damp/wet areas. Given that burnt mounds are
often suggested as places where dyeing may have been carried out (Waddell 1998, 177), it
is interesting to note that alder bark and catkins were used to make a black dye in the past.
This could be a reason for the abundance of alder wood that is associated, not just with this
particular site, but with burnt mounds countrywide.
Oak was the third most common wood type. It is slow burning and gives out substantial heat
as it burns which would have made it a natural choice for a fire.
Hazel was also represented. It was widely exploited in both prehistory and historical times
for its nutritious nuts and supple rods which were widely used for building. Its coppice-like
growth form makes it relatively easy to cut and there are normally substantial quantities of
dead wood available near ground level for fuel wood. A pollen diagram from Mongon Bog
near Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly (Parkes & Mitchell 2000) indicates that during the Bronze
Age hazel was one of the most abundant trees.
Holly and pomoideae (includes Crataegus (hawthorn), Sorbus (rowan & whitebeam) and
Malus sylvestris (crabapple) Formed a small percentage of the assemblage. It is not uncommon
to find these wood types in burnt mound assemblages.
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33. E2448 | A024 Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
Holly
Hazel 2.47%
16.05% Oak
18.52%
Pomoideae
1.23%
Alder
22.22%
Ash
39.51%
Fig. 1 Percentage fragment frequency of wood types from Cooltymurraghy E2448
Holly Oak
1.56% 7.27%
Hazel
22.49%
Alder
17.47%
Pomoideae
0.52%
Ash
50.69%
Fig. 2 Percentage weight of wood types from Cooltymurraghy E2448
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34. E2448 | A024 Cooltymurraghy, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237
10.5.4 Summary
The charcoal assemblage from Cooltymurrghy E2448 was made up of a majority of ash
wood. It was a fairly typical burnt mound assemblage, but with a wider range of trees repre-
sented than at Barnacragh or Urraghry.
Table 1
Frag. Count
Sample Context Oak Alder Ash Pomoideae Hazel Holly
8 7 4 8 7
10 9 2 4 5 1
9 7 9 6 20 13 2
Weight in grams
Sample Context Oak Alder Ash Pomoideae Hazel Holly
8 7 0.39 0.83 0.98
10 9 0.03 0.18 0.04 0.03
9 7 1.91 1.3 0.09
10.5.5 References
Dillon M. 2006 Analysis of charcoal assemblages from Kiltotan Collinstown 12.
Unpublished report produced for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
Dillon M. 2007a Analysis of a charcoal assemblage from Barnacragh E2446, Co. Galway.
Unpublished report produced for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
Dillon M. 2007 Analysis of a charcoal assemblage from Urraghry E2449, Co. Galway.
Unpublished report produced for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
O’Donnell, L. 2005 Environmental Archaeology from the Gas Pipeline to the West. On
http://www.mglarc.com.
Parkes H.M and Mitchell FJG 2000 Vegetation History at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly in
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Vol. 100B, No. 1, 35-40.
Waddell, J. 1998. The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland. Galway University Press, Galway.
‘Wood Anatomy’ at http//:www.woodanatomy.ch.
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