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.
This excavation report details the archaeological excavation of a burnt mound and six associated troughs located in Caherweelder townland, Co. Galway. The excavation revealed a shallow burnt mound located along the slope of a former turlough. Radiocarbon dating of samples from the mound and one trough fill provided dates of cal BC 2195–2040, indicating an Early Bronze Age date. A late Mesolithic chert blade was also recovered. The site was part of a cluster of burnt mounds in the townland.
This was a previously known classic kidney shaped burnt mound which was listed as a
Recorded Monument (GA103:083). The site was located within the lands acquired for
the N18 Oranmore to Gort scheme and was fully excavated. The large mound consisted
of a series of deposits consistent with those from other burnt mounds. A single oval
shaped trough was located partially under the mound and to the north-west of the expected
trough location at the centre of the kidney shape. Some slag and a chert scraper
(E3866:23:1) were recovered from stratified deposits within the mound.
This report constitutes the final excavation report on a burnt mound in the townland of Caherweelder, Co. Galway. 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 lands acquired for the scheme during phase 1 archaeological testing. The site consisted of the western extent of a burnt mound, a re-cut trough and a well.
The new road clipped the western edge of a burnt mound. The excavation revealed the presence of a large trough and a well. Both features were located below the remains of the burnt mound material. Two Late Bronze Age radiocarbon dates were obtained from basal fill of the trough and the well.
This report constitutes the final excavation report of a burnt mound in the townland of Caherweelder, Co. Galway. 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 lands acquired for the scheme during Phase 1 archaeological testing. The site consisted of a small layer of burnt mound material, a large trough and two interconnecting pits located just to the north of the mound, which may also have served as troughs.
A small burnt mound was located at the intersection of three field boundaries. The excavation revealed a central trough and two interconnecting pits which lay just to the north of the mound. Whilst shallow, the interconnecting pits may have served as troughs too. Both the mound material and the fill of one of the pits contained animal bone fragments. Two Middle Bronze Age radiocarbon dates were acquired from two samples: one from the burnt mound material and one from the lower fill of the trough. No artefacts were found.
This report constitutes the final excavation report of a burnt mound in the townland of Caherweelder, Co. Galway. 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 lands acquired for the scheme during Phase 1 archaeological testing. The site consisted of a small burnt mound, a large central trough and a smaller secondary trough.
This was a small disturbed burnt mound located in reclaimed ground on the western edge of an area of rough pasture located to the south of the turlough in Caherweelder townland. A large irregular central trough was located below the undisturbed lower burnt mound deposit. A smaller sub-circular trough was located to the south of the main trough and the burnt mound deposits.
The site was a recorded early medieval enclosure or cashel (GA113:121) which was depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of the area. The site was levelled and destroyed by land clearance in recent decades and was not visible above ground. The remains of a small 19th-century farmstead are located just to the east of the site. The footprint of the cashel was identified during the excavation as a doughnut-shaped rise in the natural subsoil.
Some remains of the original cashel wall survived below one of the field boundaries that intersect the site. A possible entrance was also identified. The stone-built field walls represent townland boundaries dividing Drumharsna North, Drumharsna South and Owenbristy. Analysis of the animal bone, plant remains and charcoal from the site was undertaken and the finds were also assessed. The find and sample assemblages from the site were mixed with material relating to the nearby post-medieval settlement.
The excavation at Drumharsna North in Co. Galway uncovered the remains of a historic field system. Archaeologists discovered the subsurface footings of a large field boundary wall that was part of an agricultural field layout marked on 19th century maps. Fragments of a quern stone and lithic artifacts, including a possible Neolithic knife, were found amongst remnants of the collapsed field wall. The site was identified as the location of a recorded ringfort and burial ground, but no structures or human remains were uncovered. Instead, the excavation revealed evidence that the land was used for pasture and agriculture from at least the early medieval period until the late 19th century, when the old field system had been removed.
This was a small, porrly preserved burnt mound from which a Late Bronze Age date was returned. A shallow trough contained a number of stakeholes in the base of the pit. No finds were found. One Late Bronze Age date was returned from the basal fill of the trough.
This excavation report details the archaeological excavation of a burnt mound and six associated troughs located in Caherweelder townland, Co. Galway. The excavation revealed a shallow burnt mound located along the slope of a former turlough. Radiocarbon dating of samples from the mound and one trough fill provided dates of cal BC 2195–2040, indicating an Early Bronze Age date. A late Mesolithic chert blade was also recovered. The site was part of a cluster of burnt mounds in the townland.
This was a previously known classic kidney shaped burnt mound which was listed as a
Recorded Monument (GA103:083). The site was located within the lands acquired for
the N18 Oranmore to Gort scheme and was fully excavated. The large mound consisted
of a series of deposits consistent with those from other burnt mounds. A single oval
shaped trough was located partially under the mound and to the north-west of the expected
trough location at the centre of the kidney shape. Some slag and a chert scraper
(E3866:23:1) were recovered from stratified deposits within the mound.
This report constitutes the final excavation report on a burnt mound in the townland of Caherweelder, Co. Galway. 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 lands acquired for the scheme during phase 1 archaeological testing. The site consisted of the western extent of a burnt mound, a re-cut trough and a well.
The new road clipped the western edge of a burnt mound. The excavation revealed the presence of a large trough and a well. Both features were located below the remains of the burnt mound material. Two Late Bronze Age radiocarbon dates were obtained from basal fill of the trough and the well.
This report constitutes the final excavation report of a burnt mound in the townland of Caherweelder, Co. Galway. 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 lands acquired for the scheme during Phase 1 archaeological testing. The site consisted of a small layer of burnt mound material, a large trough and two interconnecting pits located just to the north of the mound, which may also have served as troughs.
A small burnt mound was located at the intersection of three field boundaries. The excavation revealed a central trough and two interconnecting pits which lay just to the north of the mound. Whilst shallow, the interconnecting pits may have served as troughs too. Both the mound material and the fill of one of the pits contained animal bone fragments. Two Middle Bronze Age radiocarbon dates were acquired from two samples: one from the burnt mound material and one from the lower fill of the trough. No artefacts were found.
This report constitutes the final excavation report of a burnt mound in the townland of Caherweelder, Co. Galway. 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 lands acquired for the scheme during Phase 1 archaeological testing. The site consisted of a small burnt mound, a large central trough and a smaller secondary trough.
This was a small disturbed burnt mound located in reclaimed ground on the western edge of an area of rough pasture located to the south of the turlough in Caherweelder townland. A large irregular central trough was located below the undisturbed lower burnt mound deposit. A smaller sub-circular trough was located to the south of the main trough and the burnt mound deposits.
The site was a recorded early medieval enclosure or cashel (GA113:121) which was depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of the area. The site was levelled and destroyed by land clearance in recent decades and was not visible above ground. The remains of a small 19th-century farmstead are located just to the east of the site. The footprint of the cashel was identified during the excavation as a doughnut-shaped rise in the natural subsoil.
Some remains of the original cashel wall survived below one of the field boundaries that intersect the site. A possible entrance was also identified. The stone-built field walls represent townland boundaries dividing Drumharsna North, Drumharsna South and Owenbristy. Analysis of the animal bone, plant remains and charcoal from the site was undertaken and the finds were also assessed. The find and sample assemblages from the site were mixed with material relating to the nearby post-medieval settlement.
The excavation at Drumharsna North in Co. Galway uncovered the remains of a historic field system. Archaeologists discovered the subsurface footings of a large field boundary wall that was part of an agricultural field layout marked on 19th century maps. Fragments of a quern stone and lithic artifacts, including a possible Neolithic knife, were found amongst remnants of the collapsed field wall. The site was identified as the location of a recorded ringfort and burial ground, but no structures or human remains were uncovered. Instead, the excavation revealed evidence that the land was used for pasture and agriculture from at least the early medieval period until the late 19th century, when the old field system had been removed.
This was a small, porrly preserved burnt mound from which a Late Bronze Age date was returned. A shallow trough contained a number of stakeholes in the base of the pit. No finds were found. One Late Bronze Age date was returned from the basal fill of the trough.
The excavation revealed the presence of a burnt mound with associated pits and troughs.
The two troughs both had internal stakeholes suggesting in one case some form of lining
and in the other some form of suspension rack. The remains of a H-frame suspension
frame was situated north-west of the largest trough. A number of external pits and stake-
holes hinted at related structures or activities. Two Late Bronze Age dates were returned
for the site cal BC 1010–909. A cow horn and a shed red-deer antler were found in the
abandonment fills of a pair of boiling pits.
This report constitutes the final excavation report for a group of pits and a small layer of burnt mound material in the townland of Ballinillaun, Co. Galway. 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 Compulsory Purchase Order for the scheme during Phase 1 archaeological testing. The site consisted of a burnt mound with associated troughs and pits.
This site consisted of a poorly preserved, Middle Bronze Age, burnt mound. A series of three interconnecting pits were filled with charcoal-rich fills. Two more pits and a possible post-hole were located just to the north of the central pits and were partly overlaid by a layer of small to medium sized angular limestone. Although all the fills of the pits contained large proportions of charcoal there was no indication of burning in situ in the form of underlying fire reddened clay or lumps of scorched clay.
The site was a recorded early medieval enclosure or cashel (GA096:085) which was depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of the area. The site was levelled and destroyed by land clearance and was not visible above ground. The foundation level of a non-circular wall, which consisted of an inner and an outer face with an internal rubble
core, was partly traced around the perimeter of a low knoll. One small, internal, stone feature was identified below a stone deposit which covered the entire interior of the site.
A beautifully preserved baluster-headed ringed pin, dated from the 7th to the 8th century, was recovered during the excavation along with a crinoid fossil bead of possibly similar date. No suitable dating material was recovered during the excavation.
A well, marked on the Down Survey map from the 1650s was named as Peter’s Well on the
first edition Ordnance Survey map and was listed as a Recorded Monument (GA103:084).
Local information suggests that the well was backfilled about 100 years ago and that a
nearby pool known as Toberawoneen Pool was deepened and widened by machine and
replaced it as the local well. The excavation revealed the location of the blocked up well
which was identified by the remains of a stone revetment which enclosed it. A number of
ditches and the possible remains of a hard standing were also identified.
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.
The excavation of the site at Greenhills comprised a mound of burnt material. The mound was located on the northern and eastern side of a hollow and overlay nine pits. An Early Bronze Age date was returned from the fill of one of the pits. A flint scraper E3638:7:1 dating to the Late Neolithic / Early Bronze Age was recovered from one of the layers.
The excavation at Clynoe in County Offaly revealed the western arc of a small ditched enclosure that had previously been classified as a ringfort. No artifacts or radiocarbon dates were recovered from the site, as the charcoal samples were contaminated. The earthwork had been truncated by the construction of a road and farm buildings. The report provides details on the archaeological excavation methodology and results.
There were two separate areas, 1 and 2, excavated at Greenhills 3. Area 1 was located in the western part of the site and comprised three small separate mounds of burnt material.
The mounds overlay six troughs and two pits. A third pit was located east of the central mound. Evidence of lining was recorded in one of the troughs. An Early Bronze Age date was returned from one of the fills of one of the troughs. A flint blade (E3658:1:2) was recovered from the topsoil.
Area 2 was located 30 m east of Area 1. The ground to the immediate west of the mounds of burnt material in Area 2 was low-lying and boggy and criss-crossed with land drains. It must have been the source of water for the troughs in Area 2 in prehistory. The northern mound of burnt material overlay seven trough and three pits. The southern mound of burnt material overlay one trough. Evidence of lining was recorded in five of the troughs. One Early Bronze Age and one Middle Bronze Age date was returned from a hearth and a trough. A small assemblage of animal bone was recovered from the fills of two of the troughs and two of the layers. Two flaked pieces of chert (E3658:34:1-2) were recovered from one of the layers.
Archaeological Report - Ballyglass West , Co. Galway (Ireland) John Tierney
This report constitutes the final excavation report of a large burnt mound and modern well in the townland of Ballyglass West, Co. Galway (Fig 1). The site was excavated as part of the archaeological excavation programme in advance of construction for the N18 Gort to Oranmore road scheme. The site was discovered during Phase 1 archaeological testing of the new route under Ministerial Directions A045 (E3723).
The excavation of a large burnt mound at Ballyglass West revealed a number of archaeological features. The mound itself contained up to 16 different deposits consisting of varying amounts of stone, burnt stone and charcoal-rich black silty clay. Eight potential troughs were identified below the burnt mound deposits one of which appeared to be stone lined, and others had internal and external stakeholes. Five pits of varying size and shape were also excavated. A natural spring towards the centre of the burnt mound material was used and adapted as a well in the modern period comprising an encircling drystone wall and entrance steps. A single chert flake from the early prehistoric period was recovered from a layer in the burnt mound. Other more recent finds, associated with the well, such as copper alloy pins and a button, clay pipes and ceramic pottery fragments were also uncovered. A small assemblage of animal bone was recovered during the excavation. The analysis of the plant remains revealed that Ballyglass West is among the few burnt mound sites that have yielded cereal remains, albeit in very small amounts. The four radiocarbon dates acquired for the site revealed dates ranging from the Early Bronze Age to the Middle Bronze Age.
The excavation at Killeisk, Co. Tipperary uncovered evidence of activity from the Early Bronze Age and medieval periods. Two groups of pits dated to the Early Bronze Age contained charcoal-rich fills. A large elliptical enclosure and associated linear field boundaries and droveways were dated to the high and late medieval periods. A late medieval kiln and enclosure were also excavated, located southwest of the main enclosure. Fragments of decorated quern stones were recovered from the enclosure and field boundaries.
The excavation of the site at Garravally E3589 comprised two post-holes and a pit. No ecofacts or artefacts were recovered and no radiocarbon date was obtained.
The excavation of the site at Clashnevin 2 comprised a group of stake-holes, pits, post-holes and layers. The domestic activity was dated to the late Bronze Age / early Iron Age.
The two dates were returned from the fill of a pit and an occupation layer. Evidence of wild food exploitation was found in tandem with evidence for cereal cultivation. A small assemblage of animal bone was recovered from two of the occupation layers.
This excavation revealed the extant remains of a late medieval, mixed feed, permanent
lime kiln in the townland of Cullenagh More. The lime kiln consisted of a square structure
with a kiln pot measuring, roughly, 3.5 m across and with a surviving depth of 1.5
m. There was a central flue in each of the four walls. In its later days the kiln was used
as a storage shed and although disused, was known locally, into the 20th century. A late
medieval date was returned from the kiln.
The excavation of the site at Moneygall 2 comprised a single pit of unknown date. The site is located in Moneygall townland, Cullenwaine parish, Offaly county. Jacinta Kiely directed the excavation and authored the excavation report. The pit was excavated and no datable artifacts or features were uncovered, so the date of the feature remains unknown.
Archaeological Report - Ballinglanna North 6, Co. Cork (Ireland)John Tierney
The site at Ballinglanna North 6 was divided into two areas. An early Mesolithic flint blade (E3972:1:1) was recovered from the topsoil. Area 1 comprised a burnt mound/fulacht fiadh that extended beyond the limit of the excavation to the west. The mound overlay a trough that had been re-cut. An Early Bronze Age date was returned for the mound. Area 2 was located 65 m to the north of Area 1. A pit was located on the northern edge of the area of excavation and extended beyond the baulk. A flint blade (E3972:21:2), dating to the first half of the Neolithic and a fragment of a quern stone (E3972:21:1) were recovered from the fill of the pit. Two hearths and associated stake-holes and two pits dating to the early modern period were also excavated in Area 2. An early modern date was returned for one of the hearths. The entire area of excavation was truncated by land drains, furrows and field ditches.
The excavation of the site at Glenatlucky revealed a cremation pit, four post-holes, a hearth, three pits, one stake-hole and four linear features. The cremation pit contained the remains of a young adult of indeterminate gender and fragments of an encrusted urn, indicating a burial date in the Early Bronze Age. Charcoal from the cremation pit returned a post-medieval or modern radiocarbon date, evidently an anomalous result. Charcoal from another pit indicated an Early Bronze Age date. This is more generally representative of the activity at the site than the modern radiocarbon date from the cremation pit. Only a portion of the cremated body and the funerary pottery were found, suggesting secondary re-deposition of the original burial.
Archaeological Report - Ballinglanna North 2, Co. Cork (Ireland)John Tierney
The excavation of the site at Ballinglanna North 2 E2415 was divided into three areas of excavation. No archaeology was recorded in Area 1. The archaeological features at Area 2 comprised four hearths, a pit, three post-holes, and a stake-hole. The archaeological features excavated at Area 3 included 16 pits and a post-hole. Modern field boundaries were recorded within the area of excavation. A small assemblage of flint artefacts dating to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period was recorded at the site. An early medieval radiocarbon date was returned from one of the pits in Area 3.
The excavation of the site at Kildrum revealed a fulacht fiadh with five troughs with numerous fills of burnt mound material. The actual burnt mound survived only as shallow layers truncated by a deep field boundary. Two of the troughs were large in size and showed evidence of lining as stake-holes were recorded in the base of the troughs. Early Bronze Age dates were returned from charcoal from two of the fills of the troughs. The site was truncated by a field boundary, several land drains and a modern forest plantation.
No water source is evident in the immediate surrounds of the site but running water was recorded in the base of the field boundary. Analysis of charcoal from the site suggests that almost equal amounts of hazel, oak, and alder charcoal were used in the fires at the site.
The excavation of the site at Gortnahown 1 comprised two separate areas of excavation.
A group of over 30 pits, post-holes and stake-holes were excavated in Area 1. An Early Bronze Age and an Iron Age date were returned from pits in Area 1. At Area 2 there were 26 cut features, these included six slot trenches, five pits, eight stake-holes and four post-holes, which represented the truncated remains of a Bronze Age house. A saddle quern, a small quantity of charred animal bone and a token deposit of the cremated remains of a juvenile were recovered from the Bronze Age house.
The document reports on an archaeological excavation of a single hearth of unknown date at Kilgorteen in County Tipperary. It was part of a larger archaeological project examining a 17.1 km section of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh road for the National Roads Authority. The excavation was directed by Jacinta Kiely and uncovered a single archaeological feature, a hearth designated as C.7.
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 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.
The excavation revealed the presence of a burnt mound with associated pits and troughs.
The two troughs both had internal stakeholes suggesting in one case some form of lining
and in the other some form of suspension rack. The remains of a H-frame suspension
frame was situated north-west of the largest trough. A number of external pits and stake-
holes hinted at related structures or activities. Two Late Bronze Age dates were returned
for the site cal BC 1010–909. A cow horn and a shed red-deer antler were found in the
abandonment fills of a pair of boiling pits.
This report constitutes the final excavation report for a group of pits and a small layer of burnt mound material in the townland of Ballinillaun, Co. Galway. 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 Compulsory Purchase Order for the scheme during Phase 1 archaeological testing. The site consisted of a burnt mound with associated troughs and pits.
This site consisted of a poorly preserved, Middle Bronze Age, burnt mound. A series of three interconnecting pits were filled with charcoal-rich fills. Two more pits and a possible post-hole were located just to the north of the central pits and were partly overlaid by a layer of small to medium sized angular limestone. Although all the fills of the pits contained large proportions of charcoal there was no indication of burning in situ in the form of underlying fire reddened clay or lumps of scorched clay.
The site was a recorded early medieval enclosure or cashel (GA096:085) which was depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of the area. The site was levelled and destroyed by land clearance and was not visible above ground. The foundation level of a non-circular wall, which consisted of an inner and an outer face with an internal rubble
core, was partly traced around the perimeter of a low knoll. One small, internal, stone feature was identified below a stone deposit which covered the entire interior of the site.
A beautifully preserved baluster-headed ringed pin, dated from the 7th to the 8th century, was recovered during the excavation along with a crinoid fossil bead of possibly similar date. No suitable dating material was recovered during the excavation.
A well, marked on the Down Survey map from the 1650s was named as Peter’s Well on the
first edition Ordnance Survey map and was listed as a Recorded Monument (GA103:084).
Local information suggests that the well was backfilled about 100 years ago and that a
nearby pool known as Toberawoneen Pool was deepened and widened by machine and
replaced it as the local well. The excavation revealed the location of the blocked up well
which was identified by the remains of a stone revetment which enclosed it. A number of
ditches and the possible remains of a hard standing were also identified.
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.
The excavation of the site at Greenhills comprised a mound of burnt material. The mound was located on the northern and eastern side of a hollow and overlay nine pits. An Early Bronze Age date was returned from the fill of one of the pits. A flint scraper E3638:7:1 dating to the Late Neolithic / Early Bronze Age was recovered from one of the layers.
The excavation at Clynoe in County Offaly revealed the western arc of a small ditched enclosure that had previously been classified as a ringfort. No artifacts or radiocarbon dates were recovered from the site, as the charcoal samples were contaminated. The earthwork had been truncated by the construction of a road and farm buildings. The report provides details on the archaeological excavation methodology and results.
There were two separate areas, 1 and 2, excavated at Greenhills 3. Area 1 was located in the western part of the site and comprised three small separate mounds of burnt material.
The mounds overlay six troughs and two pits. A third pit was located east of the central mound. Evidence of lining was recorded in one of the troughs. An Early Bronze Age date was returned from one of the fills of one of the troughs. A flint blade (E3658:1:2) was recovered from the topsoil.
Area 2 was located 30 m east of Area 1. The ground to the immediate west of the mounds of burnt material in Area 2 was low-lying and boggy and criss-crossed with land drains. It must have been the source of water for the troughs in Area 2 in prehistory. The northern mound of burnt material overlay seven trough and three pits. The southern mound of burnt material overlay one trough. Evidence of lining was recorded in five of the troughs. One Early Bronze Age and one Middle Bronze Age date was returned from a hearth and a trough. A small assemblage of animal bone was recovered from the fills of two of the troughs and two of the layers. Two flaked pieces of chert (E3658:34:1-2) were recovered from one of the layers.
Archaeological Report - Ballyglass West , Co. Galway (Ireland) John Tierney
This report constitutes the final excavation report of a large burnt mound and modern well in the townland of Ballyglass West, Co. Galway (Fig 1). The site was excavated as part of the archaeological excavation programme in advance of construction for the N18 Gort to Oranmore road scheme. The site was discovered during Phase 1 archaeological testing of the new route under Ministerial Directions A045 (E3723).
The excavation of a large burnt mound at Ballyglass West revealed a number of archaeological features. The mound itself contained up to 16 different deposits consisting of varying amounts of stone, burnt stone and charcoal-rich black silty clay. Eight potential troughs were identified below the burnt mound deposits one of which appeared to be stone lined, and others had internal and external stakeholes. Five pits of varying size and shape were also excavated. A natural spring towards the centre of the burnt mound material was used and adapted as a well in the modern period comprising an encircling drystone wall and entrance steps. A single chert flake from the early prehistoric period was recovered from a layer in the burnt mound. Other more recent finds, associated with the well, such as copper alloy pins and a button, clay pipes and ceramic pottery fragments were also uncovered. A small assemblage of animal bone was recovered during the excavation. The analysis of the plant remains revealed that Ballyglass West is among the few burnt mound sites that have yielded cereal remains, albeit in very small amounts. The four radiocarbon dates acquired for the site revealed dates ranging from the Early Bronze Age to the Middle Bronze Age.
The excavation at Killeisk, Co. Tipperary uncovered evidence of activity from the Early Bronze Age and medieval periods. Two groups of pits dated to the Early Bronze Age contained charcoal-rich fills. A large elliptical enclosure and associated linear field boundaries and droveways were dated to the high and late medieval periods. A late medieval kiln and enclosure were also excavated, located southwest of the main enclosure. Fragments of decorated quern stones were recovered from the enclosure and field boundaries.
The excavation of the site at Garravally E3589 comprised two post-holes and a pit. No ecofacts or artefacts were recovered and no radiocarbon date was obtained.
The excavation of the site at Clashnevin 2 comprised a group of stake-holes, pits, post-holes and layers. The domestic activity was dated to the late Bronze Age / early Iron Age.
The two dates were returned from the fill of a pit and an occupation layer. Evidence of wild food exploitation was found in tandem with evidence for cereal cultivation. A small assemblage of animal bone was recovered from two of the occupation layers.
This excavation revealed the extant remains of a late medieval, mixed feed, permanent
lime kiln in the townland of Cullenagh More. The lime kiln consisted of a square structure
with a kiln pot measuring, roughly, 3.5 m across and with a surviving depth of 1.5
m. There was a central flue in each of the four walls. In its later days the kiln was used
as a storage shed and although disused, was known locally, into the 20th century. A late
medieval date was returned from the kiln.
The excavation of the site at Moneygall 2 comprised a single pit of unknown date. The site is located in Moneygall townland, Cullenwaine parish, Offaly county. Jacinta Kiely directed the excavation and authored the excavation report. The pit was excavated and no datable artifacts or features were uncovered, so the date of the feature remains unknown.
Archaeological Report - Ballinglanna North 6, Co. Cork (Ireland)John Tierney
The site at Ballinglanna North 6 was divided into two areas. An early Mesolithic flint blade (E3972:1:1) was recovered from the topsoil. Area 1 comprised a burnt mound/fulacht fiadh that extended beyond the limit of the excavation to the west. The mound overlay a trough that had been re-cut. An Early Bronze Age date was returned for the mound. Area 2 was located 65 m to the north of Area 1. A pit was located on the northern edge of the area of excavation and extended beyond the baulk. A flint blade (E3972:21:2), dating to the first half of the Neolithic and a fragment of a quern stone (E3972:21:1) were recovered from the fill of the pit. Two hearths and associated stake-holes and two pits dating to the early modern period were also excavated in Area 2. An early modern date was returned for one of the hearths. The entire area of excavation was truncated by land drains, furrows and field ditches.
The excavation of the site at Glenatlucky revealed a cremation pit, four post-holes, a hearth, three pits, one stake-hole and four linear features. The cremation pit contained the remains of a young adult of indeterminate gender and fragments of an encrusted urn, indicating a burial date in the Early Bronze Age. Charcoal from the cremation pit returned a post-medieval or modern radiocarbon date, evidently an anomalous result. Charcoal from another pit indicated an Early Bronze Age date. This is more generally representative of the activity at the site than the modern radiocarbon date from the cremation pit. Only a portion of the cremated body and the funerary pottery were found, suggesting secondary re-deposition of the original burial.
Archaeological Report - Ballinglanna North 2, Co. Cork (Ireland)John Tierney
The excavation of the site at Ballinglanna North 2 E2415 was divided into three areas of excavation. No archaeology was recorded in Area 1. The archaeological features at Area 2 comprised four hearths, a pit, three post-holes, and a stake-hole. The archaeological features excavated at Area 3 included 16 pits and a post-hole. Modern field boundaries were recorded within the area of excavation. A small assemblage of flint artefacts dating to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period was recorded at the site. An early medieval radiocarbon date was returned from one of the pits in Area 3.
The excavation of the site at Kildrum revealed a fulacht fiadh with five troughs with numerous fills of burnt mound material. The actual burnt mound survived only as shallow layers truncated by a deep field boundary. Two of the troughs were large in size and showed evidence of lining as stake-holes were recorded in the base of the troughs. Early Bronze Age dates were returned from charcoal from two of the fills of the troughs. The site was truncated by a field boundary, several land drains and a modern forest plantation.
No water source is evident in the immediate surrounds of the site but running water was recorded in the base of the field boundary. Analysis of charcoal from the site suggests that almost equal amounts of hazel, oak, and alder charcoal were used in the fires at the site.
The excavation of the site at Gortnahown 1 comprised two separate areas of excavation.
A group of over 30 pits, post-holes and stake-holes were excavated in Area 1. An Early Bronze Age and an Iron Age date were returned from pits in Area 1. At Area 2 there were 26 cut features, these included six slot trenches, five pits, eight stake-holes and four post-holes, which represented the truncated remains of a Bronze Age house. A saddle quern, a small quantity of charred animal bone and a token deposit of the cremated remains of a juvenile were recovered from the Bronze Age house.
The document reports on an archaeological excavation of a single hearth of unknown date at Kilgorteen in County Tipperary. It was part of a larger archaeological project examining a 17.1 km section of the N7 Castletown to Nenagh road for the National Roads Authority. The excavation was directed by Jacinta Kiely and uncovered a single archaeological feature, a hearth designated as C.7.
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 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.
The excavation of the site at Kilshanny 1 revealed the remains of Bronze Age habitation that included a round house, a possible associated structure and an enclosing component.
The remains of a post-medieval field system were also excavated. Radiocarbon dates from the site were very diverse and the range of results included Early Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, Iron Age and medieval dates.
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.
The Harristown Little kiln appeared to be a typical key-hole shaped kiln. Two similar kilns were excavated as part of this project, both in Bricketstown townland (licence nos. 00E0476 and 00E0626). The radiocarbon date from this kiln (cal AD 1460-1660) was very close to the date of use at Bricketstown 00E0476 (cal AD 1450-1650). Channels were cut into the bases of both the Bricketstown kilns and these acted as wind tunnels which distributed air evenly through the kiln as it was burning but these were not present at Harristown Little.
The document reports on an archaeological excavation at Kiltotan Collinstown 13, Co. Westmeath. The excavation uncovered two main areas of archaeological remains. Area A contained a large pit filled with burnt clay and charcoal dating to the Bronze Age, as well as some post-medieval ditches. Area B contained one irregular disturbed pit also containing burnt material that may be related to remains found further south beyond the road works area. The excavation helps add to the understanding of archaeological remains in the surrounding landscape, which contains evidence of activity dating from the Mesolithic through to the post-medieval period.
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 excavation of the site at Clashnevin comprised a burnt mound which overlay a well, a trough and a small group of pits. The well was 7 m in diameter and over 2.5 m in depth.
It was fed by a spring at the base. The trough was located on the western side of the well.
A medieval date was returned from one of the basal fills of the well. The remains of a second burnt mound were located 40 m to the west. It comprised a trough and two pits.
A Middle Bronze Age date was returned from a fill of the trough. A small quantity of plant remains and animal bone was recovered primarily from the fills of the well and a pit at the western end of the site. Three ditches were located to the north of the mound of burnt material. The ditches correspond to a field boundary marked on the 1st ed. OS map sheet TN21.
Three phases of archaeological activity were recorded on the site. The earliest phase is a Neolithic house and associated features within Area ІІ. An Early Bronze Age pit was located in Area І some 70m south of the house site. The final phase of activity related to Post-Medieval agricultural practices and included a back-filled ditch within Area ІІ.
The excavation of the site at Kilshanny 3 comprised a burnt mound. The mound overlay a large rectangular trough, two pits and a post-hole. Two Late Bronze Age radiocarbon dates were returned from the fills of the trough and a pit. A small quantity of charred cereals and plant remains were recovered from the burnt mound.
The site at Fermoy Wood has been identified as a early Iron 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. The nearest excavated site to the Fermoy Wood fulacht fiadh was the brushwood platform and trackway and nearby discovery of Giant Irish Deer in Ballyoran Bog (04E1014 extension).
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.
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.
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.
The excavation of the site at Garryleagh revealed a smithing hearth pit and associated short length of ditch and modern agricultural features. Metallurgical residues were recovered from the fills of the hearth C.13 and the ditch C.9 and were derived from iron-working (smithing). A medieval radiocarbon date, indicating use in the thirteenth or fourteenth centuries, was obtained from the fill of the hearth.
This report details an archaeological excavation of site E2420 - Caherdrinny 1, a burnt mound located in Co. Cork. The excavation was conducted as part of an archaeological assessment for the proposed N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown road project. The excavation of the burnt mound revealed a deposit of heat-shattered stone and charcoal, interpreted as the remains of a truncated burnt mound. No radiocarbon date was obtained for this site. The report provides background on the road project, excavation methodology and results, and discusses the site in the context of other Bronze Age sites found in the area.
The excavation of the site at Ballynamona was spread over two areas (Area 1 and Area 2). Excavation revealed nine pits, two post-holes and a linear feature in Area 1 and 12 pits and two linear features from Area 2. Some finds of prehistoric pottery indicated Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age activity.
A small, Late Bronze Age, burnt mound was identified consisting of a large sub-rectangu-
lar pit which was interpreted as a trough and a smaller roughly oval-shaped pit which may
also have been a trough. The large trough had internal stake-holes and pits. A radiocarbon
date of 731–406 Cal BC was returned for the site.
The excavation of a charcoal-rich layer atop a gravel ridge at Caherweelder revealed an
ironworking hearth or furnace which produced two Iron Age dates. A single chert piece,
identified as a possible hone stone, was found, and along with a small but varied animal
bone assemblage, including cattle, pig, sheep/goat and red deer may represent detritus
from a broad time span. Charcoal analysis identified that a range of species were collected
for ironworking with alder dominating one lower layer and charcoal from hawthorn/
apple-type dominating a higher layer of the ironworking pit. The two radiocarbon dates
acquired for the site revealed dates tightly clustered in the Iron Age period (cal BC 85–80
–cal AD 54–59; cal BC 91–69 – cal AD 36–52).
This report analyses the individual structures and researches the historical and social
background of a small group of buildings in Roevehagh townland which were subject to
survey and test excavations. The group included a pair of buildings and a single, similar
building, located c. 45 m to the north. This building group appears to represent two prefamine
farming households likely to have been constructed by a group of tenant farmers
at Roevehagh. It is likely to have been abandoned prior to the Great Famine 1845–49.
Structure 1 is depicted on the 1838 OS map and is partly depicted on the 1895 OS map. It
is depicted only as a small outline, indicating that it is roofless on the 1929 OS map. These
buildings probably went out of use after the earlier 19th century village of Roevehagh was
established, as a response to changes in the socio-economic structures in Galway.
This report analyses the individual structures and researches the historical and social
background of a clachan settlement, a portion of which was excavated, at Moyveela be-
tween 4 March and 12 April 2008. The five buildings and associated features excavated
represents part of a larger pre-famine clachan settlement likely to have been constructed
by a group of tenant farmers from the Moyveela Estate. The clachan was probably aban-
doned prior to the Great Famine of 1845–49 as it is not depicted on the Ordnance Survey
first edition map.
Three separate cuttings were excavated at Derrybane 1. Area 1 measured 20 m by 20 m, Area 2 measured 92 m by 30 m and Area 3 measured 13 m by 15 m. Three large pits were excavated in Area 1. Area 2 was characterised by 22 small and shallow pits, located for the most part in the centre of the site, 12 postholes and three hearths. The entire area was truncated by modern drains and furrows. An Early Bronze Age date, an early medieval and a medieval date were returned from pits and a hearth in Area 2. A corn-drying kiln and associated pit were recorded in Area 3. The figure-of-eight type kiln comprised two oval chambers separated by a flue. There was evidence for three or four phases of use in the kiln. A large oval pit was located adjacent to the kiln. The pit contained large amounts of burnt material, possibly waste from the kiln. The kiln was dated to the medieval period.
Archaeological Report - Park 2, Co. Tipperary (Ireland)John Tierney
The excavation of the site at Park comprised a substantial mound of burnt material. The mound measured 32 m by 16 m by 0.5 m in depth. It overlay a trough, a well and two pits. Evidence of trough-side furniture in the form of 17 stake-holes and two post-holes was recorded at the western end of the trough. Two Middle Bronze Age radiocarbondates were returned from a fill of the trough and the well. Small quantities of plant remains and animal bone were recovered from the site.
Two phases of prehistoric activity were recorded at Culleenwaine. A group of 18 pits was dated to the first half of the Neolithic Period. Lithics, pottery, burnt animal bone and a small quantity of charred seeds were recovered from some of the Neolithic pits. The second phase of activity was dated to the Early Bronze Age. It comprised a burnt mound which was associated with three troughs and at least four small pits. Evidence for lining was recorded in two of the troughs. Two, un-stratified lithics, a flint convex end scraper and a chert retouched blade were associated with the Early Bronze Age phase of activity.
The site was disturbed in the modern period by the excavation of a field boundary. It subsequently went out of use and was back filled. The associated land reclamation works disturbed the extent of the layers of burnt mound material.
The excavation of the site at Moatquarter comprised a Bronze Age house dating to the Middle Bronze Age. It was defined by a double ring of post-holes. The inner ring was concentric with the outer ring but the outer ring was not complete. It enclosed the rear and more than half the sides of the structure. The internal diameter of the structure was 5.8 m and it enclosed an area of 26.1 m2 . The entrance to the house faced south-southeast.
The excavation of the site at Gortnahown 4 revealed deposits of disturbed burnt mound material overlain by re-deposited subsoil. The layers of burnt mound material were ex situ. They may have been removed from their original location during land reclamation works. No radiocarbon date was obtained for this site.
The excavated remains at Drumroe comprised a Bronze Age house, a group of pits and a number of field boundaries. The area of excavation measured 35 m north-south by 110 m east-west. The Bronze Age house was located at the eastern end of the site. The house measured 7 m in diameter. It was defined by two incomplete rings of post-holes and slot trenches, the inner ring was concentric with the outer. No trace of the rear of the structure survived. The porch measured c. 1 m in width by 1.7 m in length and faced directly east. A widely dispersed group of sixteen pits and field boundaries were recorded in the western portion of the site. The boundaries were of relict field systems. At least three phases of ditches were recorded and a broad typology of ditches can be associated with the three phases.
The excavation of the site at Gortore 1b E2410 comprised three areas, 1, 2 and 3. The site was located on the southern bank of the River Funshion. A truncated house and a group of pits and post-holes were excavated in Area 1. A group of pits, some dating to the Mesolithic period, were excavated in Area 2. A large concentration of pits, post-holes and hearths, which formed at least two possible structures, were excavated in Area 3. The underlying limestone geology and the formation of sink holes in Area 3 were problematic.
An important assemblage of lithic artefacts, dating from the Early Mesolithic to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age, was recovered, in particular from Area 2 and Area 3. An assemblage of Early Neolithic carinated bowls and Middle Neolithic gobular bowls was also recovered from the site. A corn-drying kiln dated to the early medieval period was recorded in Area 1.
Similar to Archaeological Report - Coldwood/Foorkill , Co. Galway (Ireland) (11)
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.
How Barcodes Can Be Leveraged Within Odoo 17Celine George
In this presentation, we will explore how barcodes can be leveraged within Odoo 17 to streamline our manufacturing processes. We will cover the configuration steps, how to utilize barcodes in different manufacturing scenarios, and the overall benefits of implementing this technology.
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).
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.
THE SACRIFICE HOW PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTS STUDENTS ARE SACRIFICING TO CHANGE T...indexPub
The recent surge in pro-Palestine student activism has prompted significant responses from universities, ranging from negotiations and divestment commitments to increased transparency about investments in companies supporting the war on Gaza. This activism has led to the cessation of student encampments but also highlighted the substantial sacrifices made by students, including academic disruptions and personal risks. The primary drivers of these protests are poor university administration, lack of transparency, and inadequate communication between officials and students. This study examines the profound emotional, psychological, and professional impacts on students engaged in pro-Palestine protests, focusing on Generation Z's (Gen-Z) activism dynamics. This paper explores the significant sacrifices made by these students and even the professors supporting the pro-Palestine movement, with a focus on recent global movements. Through an in-depth analysis of printed and electronic media, the study examines the impacts of these sacrifices on the academic and personal lives of those involved. The paper highlights examples from various universities, demonstrating student activism's long-term and short-term effects, including disciplinary actions, social backlash, and career implications. The researchers also explore the broader implications of student sacrifices. The findings reveal that these sacrifices are driven by a profound commitment to justice and human rights, and are influenced by the increasing availability of information, peer interactions, and personal convictions. The study also discusses the broader implications of this activism, comparing it to historical precedents and assessing its potential to influence policy and public opinion. The emotional and psychological toll on student activists is significant, but their sense of purpose and community support mitigates some of these challenges. However, the researchers call for acknowledging the broader Impact of these sacrifices on the future global movement of FreePalestine.
A Visual Guide to 1 Samuel | A Tale of Two HeartsSteve Thomason
These slides walk through the story of 1 Samuel. Samuel is the last judge of Israel. The people reject God and want a king. Saul is anointed as the first king, but he is not a good king. David, the shepherd boy is anointed and Saul is envious of him. David shows honor while Saul continues to self destruct.
Gender and Mental Health - Counselling and Family Therapy Applications and In...PsychoTech Services
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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
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
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.
2. EACHTRA
Archaeological Projects
Final Archaeological Excavation Report
Coldwood/Foorkill
Co. Galway
Burnt Mound
Date: October 2010
Client: Galway County Council and National
Roads Authority
Project: N18 Oranmore - Gort
E No: E3887
Excavation Director: Enda O’Mahony
Written by: Enda O’Mahony & Finn Delaney
3.
4. Final Archaeological Excavation Report
Coldwood/Foorkill
Co. Galway
Excavation Director
Enda O’Mahony
Written By
Enda O’Mahony & Finn Delaney
EACHTRA
Archaeological Projects
CORK GALWAY
The Forge, Innishannon, Co. Cork Unit 10, Kilkerrin Park, Liosbain Industrial Estate, Galway
tel: 021 4701616 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: info@eachtra.ie tel: 091 763673 | web: www.eachtra.ie | email: galway@eachtra.ie
6. Table of Contents
iii Summaryiii
iv Acknowledgements iv
1 Introduction ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 1
2 Background to the scheme �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
3 Topography, geology and hydrology ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
4 Archaeological and historical background ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
5 Site description ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7
6 Methodology ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7
7 Results of excavation ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 10
71 The possible buried topsoil 10
72 The burnt mound deposit 14
73 Modern disturbance 14
8 Lithic assemblage ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 15
9 Animal bone ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 15
10 Discussion �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 16
11 References ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������20
Appendix 1 Context register �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������22
Appendix 2 Stratigraphic matrix ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������23
Appendix 3 Groups and subgroups������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 24
Appendix 4 Find register ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 27
Appendix 5 Stone artefacts ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������28
Appendix 6 Animal bone report ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 31
i
7. List of Figures
Figure 1: Discovery series Ordnance Survey map showing the route of the new N18
Oranmore to Gort road and the location of all the excavation sites� The excavation
site at Coldwood is highlighted� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2
Figure 2: A distribution map showing the location of prehistoric sites surrounding
Coldwood� It is based on the RMP/SMR (Sheet GA096) data-set which has been
overlaid on the Ordnance Survey discovery series mapping� ��������������������������������������������������� 3
Figure 3: The route of the new N18 Oranmore to Gort road overlaid on the first edition
Ordnance Survey map (Sheet GA096)� The excavation site at Coldwood is also
highlighted� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4
Figure 4: The route of the new N18 Oranmore to Gort road overlaid on the 25 inch
Ordnance Survey map (Sheet GA096)� The excavation site at Coldwood is also
highlighted� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6
Figure 5: The route of the new N18 Oranmore to Gort road overlaid on the RMP/SMR map
which is based on second edition Ordnance Survey map (Sheet GA096)� �������������������������� 8
Figure 6: The soil type at Coldwood (data provided from Teagasc and Forest Service, Dept
of Marine and Natural Resources, EPA)� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9
Figure 7: Clusters of burnt mound sites showing the location of Coldwood within the
cluster� The insert shows the level of clustering of burnt mounds in the study area� ����� 11
Figure 8: Post-excavation plan of the site� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12
Figure 9: Interpretive post-excavation plan of the site� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13
List of Plates
Plate 1: General pre-excavation photograph looking north across the burnt mound� �����������������10
Plate 2: Bulldozer track identified below the burnt mound deposit� ��������������������������������������������������� 14
Plate 3: General post-excavation photograph looking north across the burnt mound� ��������������� 15
List of Tables
Table 1: Site Location Details ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� iii
Table 2: Table of radiocarbon dates from the burnt mound sites on the N18 Gort to Oranmore������ 17
Table 3: Chipped and course stone finds from some of the burnt mound sites on the N18 Gort
to Oranmore ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 18
Table 5: Summary of cluster analysis ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 18
ii
8. Coldwood/Foorkill-E3887 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3887-coldwood-foorkill-co-galway/
iii Summary
The excavation uncovered the disturbed remains of, an undated, burnt mound with no
other associated archaeological features. The burnt mound was disturbed by land im-
provement 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 be-
low the burnt mound deposit.
Townland Coldwood/Foorkill
Parish Athenry
Barony Dunkellin
County Galway
Ministerial Order Number A045
E Number E3887
OS Map Sheet GA096
National Grid Reference 145908/224401
Elevation 14m O.D.
Site Type Burnt Mound
Table 1: Site Location Details
iii
9. iSSUE 8: EaChtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 Final arChaEologiCal ExCavation rEport
iv Acknowledgements
The excavation director was Enda O’Mahony and the site supervisors were Mike Duffin,
David O’Reilly and Tomaz Wasowski. The field crew included Thomas Conway, John
Patrick Lehane, Anna Marciniak, Mirek Mazurek, Anna Okoniewska, Izabella Polchlo-
pek, Elaine Roche, Pádraig O’Reily and Ignacio Gomez Lastrez. The senior archaeologist
was Finn Delaney and the post-excavation manager was Jacinta Kiely. Choryna Kiely,
Fillip Debniak and Fiona Greene were involved with the administration of the project. Il-
lustrations are by Ben Blakeman and Maurizio Toscano. Specialist analysis of the animal
bone was undertaken by Margaret McCarthy and the lithics was undertaken by Farina
Sternke. Joseph O’Brien was the resident engineer for consultant engineers Hyder Tobins.
The project was commissioned by Galway County Council and was funded by the Na-
tional Roads Authority. The Project Archaeologist was Jerry O’Sullivan.
iv
10. Coldwood/Foorkill-E3887 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3887-coldwood-foorkill-co-galway/
1 Introduction
This report constitutes the final excavation report for a disturbed burnt mound in the
townland of Coldwood/Foorkill, 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 Compulsory Purchase Order
(CPO) area for the scheme during Phase 1 archaeological testing. The site consisted of
the very disturbed remains of a burnt mound. A barbed-and-tanged flint arrowhead was
uncovered during the excavation.
2 Background to the scheme
The N18 Oranmore to Gort (Glenbrack to Rathmorrissey) national road scheme was
approved by An Bórd Pleanála on 7 June 2007. The development will consist of approxi-
mately 27 km of dual carriageway, and all associated works. The area of archaeological
investigations lies within the footprint of the proposed scheme as defined by the Compul-
sory Purchase Order (CPO) published by Galway County Council on 1 August 2006.
Eachtra Archaeological Projects was commissioned by Galway County Council and the
National Roads Authority to undertake Phase 1 archaeological testing and Phase 2 exca-
vation of sites directly impacted by the proposed development.
3 Topography, geology and hydrology
The underlying geology in the surrounding area is Carboniferous limestone of the Bur-
ren and Tubber formations bordered by Namurian shales and sandstones to the west, in
County Clare, and Devonian old red sandstone to the east, in the Slieve Aughty uplands.
Glacial till overlies the bedrock to varying depths (0–5 m) and the soils derived from
the till are generally deep, well drained brown earths. The topsoils are characteristically
deep and dry and, enriched by the limestone parent material, support moderately good
grass pastures. There are boulder fields and expanses of bedrock exposure typical of karst
limestone country.
Although a degree of soil variability higher than expected has been recorded on the
landscape near the burnt mounds examined, Coldwood is located on a region of relative
low soil variability (Fig 6). Within a radius of 500 metres around the site there is a preva-
lence of deep, well-drained mineral soil, with 20% of shallow well drained soil. The site is
located in an area of interface between the two soil types.
Turloughs and swallow-holes are features of areas with karst limestone bedrock,
which enables the ground water and water table to produce sometimes perplexing drain-
age systems. A large turlough is shown on the Ordnance Survey first edition map in the
south-western portion of Coldwood townland and encompasses parts of the townlands
of Moyveela and Ballinillaun. Two small lakes are also shown, namely Pollnakirka and
1
11. iSSUE 8: EaChtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 Final arChaEologiCal ExCavation rEport
135000 142500 150000
Derrydonnell More
E3867
Coldwood
225600
225600
E3887
Moyveela 3
Moyveela 2 E3907
E3884
Moyveela 1
Ballinillaun 2 E3883
E3886
Ballinillaun 1
E3888
Lavally
E3869
Roevehagh 2
E4012 Roevehagh 1
E3885
Caherweelder 7
Caherweelder 6 E3826
E3871
Caherweelder 5
Caherweelder 4 E3866
E3708
Caherweelder 3
Caherweelder 2 E3889
E3890
Caherweelder 1
E3880
214400
214400
Owenbristy
E3770
Drumharsna North
E3868
Drumharsna South
E3872
Cullenagh More
E3881
Ballyglass West
E3870
203200
203200
Coldwood
¢
135000 142500 150000
0 5 10
CPO line Excavation Areas
Kilometres
Figure 1: Discovery series Ordnance Survey map showing the route of the new N18 Oranmore to Gort road and the
location of all the excavation sites� The excavation site at Coldwood is highlighted�
2
12. Coldwood/Foorkill-E3887 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3887-coldwood-foorkill-co-galway/
140000 150000
232000
232000
Coldwood
216000
216000
200000
200000
140000 150000
¢
Barrow (57) Cairn (16) Fulacht Fiadh (85) Pit group (2) 0 5
Burial Cist (5) Coastal Fort (1) Hilltop Enclosure (7) Ritual site: Pond (1)
Burial Mound (1) Flat Cemetary (2) Megalithic tomb (19) Standing stone (16) Kilometres
Figure 2: A distribution map showing the location of prehistoric sites surrounding the site at Coldwood� It is based
on the RMP/SMR (Sheet GA096) data-set which has been overlaid on the Ordnance Survey discovery series
mapping� 3
13. iSSUE 8: EaChtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 Final arChaEologiCal ExCavation rEport
145440 146300
224800
224800
223900
223900
MOYVEELA
Coldwood
¢
145440 146300
0 0.25 0.5
CPO line Excavation Areas
Kilometres
Figure 3: The route of the new N18 Oranmore to Gort road overlaid on the first edition Ordnance Survey map
(Sheet GA096)� The excavation site at Coldwood is also highlighted�
4
14. Coldwood/Foorkill-E3887 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3887-coldwood-foorkill-co-galway/
Pollawarla. The turlough and lakes were fed by the Lavally river from the north-east. A river
exits towards the sea at Clarinbridge from the south-west side of the turlough and is marked
as the Clarin river. The river was later dredged and a canal was constructed and the turlough
was divided into large regular fields. The availability of water at Coldwood was assured by
the turlough which, as shown on the 1st edition map, was 1.2 km away from the site. The
River Lavally 1.4 km away, complete the water resources in the vicinity of the site.
4 Archaeological and historical background
The townland name Coldwood derives from the Irish Fuar Choil. The designation Foorkill
is obviously a direct phonetic rendition of the Irish name. According to Joyce (1913) if
the back of a hill had a northern aspect it was often called Coolfore. The element fore or
its derivative Fuair often precedes the noun it is qualifying. So Fuar Choil literally means
the ‘cold wood’.
There seems to have been an expansion of settlement from hill-slopes and uplands
into lower lying areas during the Bronze Age. There also seems to have been a trend way
from communal funerary monuments to individual burial monuments with associated
grave goods. This would explain the relatively high concentration of barrows in lowland
east Galway.
Barrows are burial monuments of the Bronze Age and Iron Age. They 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.
Bronze Age burials that have been excavated, either in recent times or during the last
century, include some found in cists - pits lined with stone flags, and some in simple pits,
some of which were accompanied by pottery or other grave goods. These can be placed
in mounds, cairns or barrows, but can also be set within ‘natural’ monuments, such as
sand ridges, or can appear in so-called flat cemeteries, with no above ground marker at all.
These trends are also reflected in south Galway where stray finds of Bronze Age ob-
jects have been found in Toberbrackan and Lavally and a Bronze Age cist and ‘food vessel
urn’ was found in Moyveela (O’Sullivan 2006) in the vicinity of this road scheme.
There are no known house sites or settlements of the period in the area, but there are
numerous examples of burnt mounds or fulacht fiadh. These mounds of burnt and shat-
tered stone were the by-products of a technique of immersing heated stones in pits filled
with water, to boil it. Recorded examples occur on or near the proposed road scheme in
Rathmorrissey, Toberroe and Caherweelder and the present programme of excavation in
advance of construction on the N18 Oranmore to Gort road scheme has added up to 12
examples to the numbers of burnt mound sites in the area.
The distribution map of prehistoric recorded monuments shows a concentration of
ring barrows centred around Derrydonnell North which is located to the north west of
the disturbed burnt mound at Coldwood (Fig 5). A Bronze Age cist burial and a barrow
are also recorded to the south west in the townland of Moyveela. The distribution map
5
15. iSSUE 8: EaChtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237 Final arChaEologiCal ExCavation rEport
145500 146250
224800
224800
Coldwood
223600
223600
¢
145500 146250
0 0.25 0.5
CPO line Excavation Areas
Kilometres
Figure 4: The route of the new N18 Oranmore to Gort road overlaid on the 25 inch Ordnance Survey map (Sheet
GA096)� The excavation site at Coldwood is also highlighted�
6
16. Coldwood/Foorkill-E3887 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3887-coldwood-foorkill-co-galway/
also shows that the burnt mound at Coldwood fits into a concentration of this monu-
ment type to the south and south-west of Athenry. Two other burnt mounds (Moyveela
1 and Moyveela 2) excavated within the CPO for this road scheme in the townland of
Moyveela just to the south of Coldwood, also fit into this concentration.
The first edition Ordnance Survey map of the area portrays a marked difference in
field layout on either side of the townland boundary between the townlands of Coldwood
and Greethill to the east and Derrydonnell More and Moyveela to the west (Fig 2). The
western townlands are marked as having larger open fields. The first edition map shows
the excavation area for the disturbed burnt mound straddling a field boundary which is
not shown on later editions of the map. All versions of the Ordnance Survey map show
the location of the excavation area as being composed of rough grazing with indications
of rock outcropping (Figs 2, 3 and 4).
5 Site description
The excavated site was located to the north of the present N6 in the north-western corner
of Coldwood townland (NGR 145911/222399) (Fig 1). In fact, the site is located just
to the south of the point where the four townlands of Coldwood, Derrydonnell More,
Greethill and Moyveela converge (Fig 2). The elevation of the surrounding area is 15-17m
O.D. The site is located on relatively low-lying, flat, level, ground. The ground does rise to
the north and east and views are limited to the east by higher ground and trees and scrub.
There are relatively unobstructed views to the south and east.
The site was situated in a large, flat, rectangular field of improved pasture. The field
boundaries to the east and north are formed by large limestone boulders while those to
the east and south are formed by typical single-leaf, dry-stone field boundaries lined with
occasional trees and bushes. The large boulder boundaries are the result of reclamation
work that was undertaken by bulldozer in the 1980s. All the hollows and lags were back-
filled and levelled at the same time. Prior to this reclamation the field would have been
subject to flooding during the winter months.
6 Methodology
An area measuring roughly 50 m north/south and 25 m east/west (1250 sq m) was
stripped of topsoil by a 20 tonne excavator, using a toothless bucket to reveal the extents
of the burnt mound and any associated features (Fig 6). The site was then subjected to in-
tensive hand cleaning. The burnt mound was fully excavated by hand and recorded using
the single-context recording system with plans and sections being produced at a scale of
1:20 or 1:10 as appropriate. A complete photographic record was maintained throughout
the excavation.
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145500 146250
225000
225000
223750
223750
Coldwood
¢
145500 146250
BAWN FIELD SYSTEM MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT 0 0.25 0.5
CHURCH RINGFORT - CASHEL EARTHWORK
Kilometres
GRAVEYARD ECCLESIASTICAL ENCLOSURE SOUTERRAIN
CPO LINE EXCAVATION AREA
BULLAUN STONE CASTLE - TOWER HOUSE
Figure 5: The route of the new N18 Oranmore to Gort road overlaid on the RMP/SMR map which is based on second
edition Ordnance Survey map (Sheet GA096)�
8
18. 145134 146634
225019
225019
Coldwood/Foorkill-E3887
i ve r )
Coldwood
Lavally (R
223519
223519
Deep well drained mineral Shallow mineral soil with peaty topsoil Deep poorly drained mineral 0 0.5 1
Shallow well drained mineral Poorly drained mineral with peaty topsoil Kilometres
145134 146634
Figure 6: The soil type at Coldwood (data provided from Teagasc and Forest Service, Dept of Marine and Natural Resources, EPA)�
¢
http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3887-coldwood-foorkill-co-galway/
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Plate 1: General pre-excavation photograph looking north across the burnt mound�
Due to the badly disturbed nature of the deposits soil samples were not subjected to
charcoal or plant remains analysis and no samples were sent for radio carbon dating. The
animal bone and lithic assemblages were sent for detailed examination.
7 Results of excavation
The area stripped and cleaned by hand measured 50 m north/south and 25 m east/west.
The burnt mound presented as two separate deposits, which were badly disturbed (Figs 8
and 9) (Plates 1 and 3). A deposit of possible buried topsoil was revealed below the burnt
mound deposits.
7.1 The possible buried topsoil
In the southern half of the site a buried topsoil horizon (C.5) was identified. This deposit
was firmly compacted, dark reddish brown silty clay with a low density of stone and
charcoal inclusions. A small amount of animal bone, a chert flake E3887:5:1 and a flint
arrowhead E3887:5:3 were recovered from this layer.
10
20. 143120 146120 149120
Moyveela
group
1
1d
r)
i ve
1 y (R
be
226933
226933
ab
Caherweelder a ig
group Gr
Coldwood/Foorkill-E3887
Ballyglass West
1c
Cluster
0 10 barycenter
!
(
Kilometres 1b
2.5 km
r)
i ve
(R
ir
sc
Ei
Coldwood
1a Moyveela 2
223233
223233
Moyveela 1
Lav
a lly
(R i ver
)
Turloughs on 1st edition OSi Map
¢
0 3
Kilometres
143120 146120 149120
Figure 7: Clusters of burnt mound sites showing the location of Coldwood within the cluster� The insert shows the level of clustering of burnt mounds in the study area�
http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3887-coldwood-foorkill-co-galway/
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145901 145914
±
8
224411
224411
10
7
224391
224391
0 10 m
145901 145914
Figure 8: Post-excavation plan of the site�
12
22. Coldwood/Foorkill-E3887 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3887-coldwood-foorkill-co-galway/
145901 145914
±
Mound material
224411
224411
Mound material
224391
224391
0 10 m
145901 145914
Figure 9: Interpretive post-excavation plan of the site�
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Plate 2: Bulldozer track identified below the burnt mound deposit�
7.2 The burnt mound deposit
This was a deposit (C.4) of dark black silty clay with a high density of small heat-affected
stones, all of which were angular in shape and mixed with small flecks of charcoal. It had
a maximum depth of 0.26 m and was evident across the excavated area. It ranged in size
from 13 – 8 m in length and 6 – 8 m in width. The deposit was highly disturbed with
re-deposited material (C.3) mixed throughout the excavated layers. Evidence of earth-
moving machinery in the form of track imprints were recorded under the mound material
(Plate 2). The area around the northern deposit was also used as a dumping ground for
modern domestic and agricultural waste evident from the discovery of field gates, frag-
mented toilet bowls and glass bottles.
A small amount of animal bone and a chert flake E3887:4:1 were recovered from the
burnt mound deposit.
7.3 Modern disturbance
As noted above, modern disturbance was apparent under layers of burnt mound material
produced evidence of earth-moving machinery in the form of track imprints (Plate 2).
The area around the northernmost mound was also used as a dumping ground for mod-
ern domestic and agricultural waste evident from the discovery of field gates, fragmented
toilet bowls, glass bottles and so on. To the east was a modern drain feature (C.8) filled
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Plate 3: General post-excavation photograph looking north across the burnt mound�
with small stones (C.6) and mixed through with modern plastics and other modern de-
bris. A similar drain (C.10) was located 15 m to the south-west.
8 Lithic assemblage
The lithics assemblage was examined by Farina Sternke (Appendix 5). Two chert flakes
and a barbed-and-tanged flint arrowhead, dating to the late Neolithic period, were recov-
ered from layers C.4 and C.5.
9 Animal bone
The animal bone was examined by Margaret McCarthy (Appendix 6). Cattle and sheep
bone were recovered from layers C.4 and C.5.
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10 Discussion
Burnt mounds are the most common Bronze Age sites found in Ireland. Estimates sug-
gest that at least 4,500 examples are known (Power et al 1997) and this number is con-
tinuously growing as sites continue to be identified during archaeological field work. The
characteristic site-type is found in low-lying and damp ground and consists of a mound
of charcoal-rich black sediment that is packed with heat shattered stones and forms a
horse-shoe shape around a pit or trough that filled with water. In many cases just like at
Coldwood all that survives to the present day are black charcoal rich deposits with frag-
ments of shattered stones visible in ploughed fields.
These sites are associated with the process of roasting stones to heat water. The remains
of these ‘pyrolithic technologies’ (terminology follows Ó Néill 2004) produce the tell-tale
deposits rich in charcoal and heat-affected stone. Debate continues about their use, as hot
water is required for many processes including cooking, brewing, washing, dyeing and,
most recently it has been argued that some burnt mounds were primarily used to boil and
cure meat for long term storage (Roycroft 2006).
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.
Experimental cooking at reconstructed sites such as Ballyvourney (O’Kelly 1954) has
demonstrated that meat wrapped in straw and placed into a boiling trough can be cooked
quite effectively. The perceived lack of any animal bones from these excavated sites has
been used against this theory. More recently however there is a growing corpus of sites
which have produced animal bone (Tourunen 2008) and all of the sites excavated dur-
ing the N18 Oranmore to Gort project have produced animal bone all be it in very small
quantities, and sometimes in disturbed contexts.
The traditional perception of the burnt mound site is that they are isolated features on
the landscape situated on marginal ground away from settlement. Recent studies however
are requiring a re-evaluation of this perception. Excavations along the route of the N25
Kilmacthomas realignment in Co. Waterford produced evidence for a burnt mound site
(Ahanaglogh) which was repeatedly used in the Early Bronze Age. Some Early Bronze
Age dates from a nearby settlement sites suggest that there may have been an overlap
in occupation. (Johnston et al 2008). A similar discovery was made at Cloghers II, Co.
Kerry where Beaker settlement was found in close association with and proximity to an
Early Bronze Age burnt mound (Kiely Dunne 2005). The recent publication on the
archaeology of Clare Island has also established the intimate relationship between burnt
mounds and settlement areas (Gosling 2007). Surveys on Clare Island highlighted the
spatial association of the identified burnt mounds with enclosures, houses and huts and
boundary walls.
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26. Coldwood/Foorkill-E3887 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3887-coldwood-foorkill-co-galway/
Site Name E No. Radiocarbon date (2 sigma) cal BC Period
Ballinillaun 1 E3888 1260– 1228 MBA
1220–1108
1105–1055
Ballinillaun 2 E3886 1912–1876 EBA
1842–1821
1797–1781
Ballyglass west E3870 1411–1290 MBA
1280–1270
1687–1602 EBA
1591–1532
1740–1703 EBA
1699–1618
1125 – 978 MBA
Caherweelder 1 E3880 974–957 LBA
941–831
1038–1034 LBA
1028–901
Caherweelder 2 E3890 1192–1174 MBA
1164–1143
1132–1005
1294–1124 MBA
Caherweelder 3 E3889 1668–1501 EBA
1448–1370 1351–1316 MBA
Caherweelder 5 E3866 1125–976 MBA
952–947
1944–1865 1849–1773 EBA
Caherweelder 6 E3871 2195–2174 2145–2119 2096–2040 EBA
Coldwood E3887 Unknown
Moyveela 1 E3883 731–691 LBA
660–652
544–406
Moyveela 2 E3884 1010–909 LBA
894–873 LBA
846–798
Roevehagh 1 E3885 976–952 LBA
948–832
Table 2: Table of radiocarbon dates from the burnt mound sites on the N18 Gort to Oranmore
Up to recently comparatively few burnt mound sites had been excavated in County
Galway. The excavations data-set listed only 18 excavations of burnt mounds/fulachta
fiadh in the county prior to 2006 (Bennett 1970–2003). The published archaeological
inventories for the county record only six examples from the west of the county and 17 in
the north. Large-scale archaeological works such as those associated with the N6 Galway
to Ballinasloe road scheme suggest that the numbers recorded are under representative:
the N6 archaeological works identified thirteen burnt mound sites. However, work as-
sociated with the gas pipeline to the west revealed only one new burnt mound site in Co.
Galway (Grogan et al 2007). The inventory for the south of the county is not yet pub-
lished but a look at the distribution map based on the RMP data would suggest that the
numbers are significantly higher in the southern portion of the county. Archaeological
investigations on the N18 from Oranmore to Gort and from Gort to Crusheen bear out
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this impression of under representation. A total of 12 burnt mounds including Coldwood
were excavated on the Gort to Oranmore section while 27 burnt mound sites were ex-
cavated on the N18 Gort to Crusheen section by Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.
The three lithic aretafcts from the archaeological excavation at Coldwood are late
Neolithic in date. A small number of lithics were recovered from five of the other burnt
mound sites.
Site Name E No. Material Type Period Sub-Period Comment
Caherweelder 7 E3826:3:1 Chert Hone Stone? Bronze Age smoothened
and worn all
around
Ballyglass West E3870:11:1 Chert Blade Mesolithic Early
Caherweelder 6 E3871:5:1 Chert Retouched Mesolithic Late blade
Artefact point, not
butt-trimmed
Coldwood E3887:4:1 Chert Flake Neolithic Beaker
Coldwood E3887:5:1 Chert Flake Neolithic Beaker
Coldwood E3887:5:3 Flint Retouched Neolithic Beaker Barbed tan-
Artefact ged arrowhead
Ballinalliun 1 E3888:3:1 Chert Flake Neolithic
Caherweelder 5 E3866:23:1 Chert Retouched Neolithic convex end
Artefact scraper
Table 3: Chipped and course stone finds from some of the burnt mound sites on the N18 Gort to Oranmore
Recent excavations in the south-east of Ireland revealed a similar pattern of very small
assemblages found in associated fulacht fiadh, e.g. the N25 Waterford By-Pass (Wood-
man 2006), a pattern that is replicated elsewhere in Ireland. The coincidence of Meso-
lithic and Neolithic artefacts on Bronze Age sites may be explained by these locations
being continually visited and occupied through the prehistoric period. Bronze Age burnt
mounds were situated here due to the dual availability of water and fuel, while the eco-
logical diversity of these locations would have attracted hunters and gatherers from the
Mesolithic and the Neolithic periods.
A statistical cluster analysis has been applied to the entire set of burnt mounds recov-
ered on a study area around the N18 OG project and the results show a multiscalar, high
level of clustering for this type of site. In consideration of the burnt mound distribution in
the landscape, Coldwood is located inside one of the larger clusters identified in the area.
The cluster is composed of 11 sites, eight RMP and three newly recorded (Fig 7). The site
does not belong to any of the additional clusters identified at a larger scale.
Cluster Site quantity Area enclosed Density Sites Minimum Maximum
per sq. km. mean distance distance distance
1 11 8.5 sq. km. 1.3 2.6 km. 50 m. 4.4 km.
1a 2 130 m.
1b 3 0.02 sq. km. 317 m. 86 m. 448 m.
1c 2 50 m.
1d 3 0.002 sq. km. 82 m. 50 m. 112 m.
Table 5: Summary of cluster analysis
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The badly disturbed burnt mound site at Coldwood is a very poorly preserved exam-
ple of its type. It did not reveal any associated elements such as troughs or stakeholes and
the only evidence for activity, including animal bone and lithics, comes from the black
deposit rich in charcoal and heat-affected stone. The site does however fit into the dis-
tribution pattern of Bronze Age activity as reflected by the recorded archaeological sites
in the area to the south west of Athenry and it provides another element in the growing
corpus of excavated burnt mound sites in Co. Galway.
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11 References
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.) Excavations 1970-2003 [= annual gazetteer of licensed archaeological
excavations in Ireland]. Wordwell Press for the Department of Environment,
Heritage Local Government.
Gosling, P 1993 Archaeological Inventory of County Galway, Vol 1 West Galway. Dublin,
The Stationery Office
Gosling P 2007 ‘A Distributional and Morphological Analysis of Fulachtai Fia on Clare
Island,’ In P. Gosling (ed), New Survey of Clare Island, Vol 5 Archaeology, 69-90,
Dublin
Grogan, E, O’Donnell, L, and Johnston, P 2007 The Bronze Age Landscapes of the
Pipeline to the West. Bray. Wordwell
Johnston, P, Kiely, J. and Tierney, J 2008 Near the Bend in the River: the archaeology of
the N25 Kilmacthomas realignment. NRA Scheme Monograph 3. Dublin
Joyce, P W 1867-1913 Names of Irish Places, 3 vols. London Dublin.
Kiely, J and Dunne, L 2005 ‘Recent archaeological investigations in the Tralee area.’
In M. Connolly (ed.), Past Kingdoms: recent archaeological research, survey and
excavation in County Kerry. Tralee. Heritage Council/Kerry County Council
O’Kelly, M 1954 ‘Excavations and experiments in Irish cooking places.’ Journal of the
Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Vol 84, 105-55.
Ó Néill, J 2003/2004 Lapidibus in igne calefactis coquebatur: The historical burnt
mound “tradition”, Journal of Irish Archaeology Vol. XII XIII, 77-84
O’Sullivan, J 2006 ‘Archaeological Heritage,’ In Galway County Council Environmental
Impact Statement for N18 Oranmore to Gort National Road Scheme.
Power, D, Byrne, E, Egan, U, Lane, S. and Sleeman. M 1997 Archaeological Inventory of
County Cork Volume 3:Mid Cork. The Stationery Office, Dublin.
Roycroft, N 2006 Boiled bull and burnt mounds. Seanda 1, 38-43
Tourunen, A 2008 ‘Fauna and fulachta fiadh: animal bones from burnt mounds on
the N9/N10 Carlow Bypass.’ In J. O’Sullivan and M. Stanley (eds.), Roads,
20
30. Coldwood/Foorkill-E3887 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3887-coldwood-foorkill-co-galway/
Rediscovery and Research. Archaeology and the National Roads Authority
Monograh Series No. 5. Wordwell
Woodman, P C 2006. The significance of the lithic assemblages from the archaeological
excavations on the Waterford By-Pass. Unpublished Report for Headland
Archaeology - Ireland Ltd.
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Appendix 1 Context register
Please see attached CD for Context Register.
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Appendix 3 Groups and subgroups
Natural Deposits – Group 1
Topsoil - subgroup 1001
Context Number – C.1
Description
This was a mid brown silty clay with a low density of stone inclusions and with a maxi-
mum depth of 0.15 m.
Interpretation
This represented the topsoil which had formed across the site since the disturbance associ-
ated with reclamation and levelling.
Subsoil – subgroup 1002
Context Number C.2
Description
This was a strongly cemented silty sand with a high density of large stones and gravel
inclusions, most of which showed signs of decay. It was light bluish grey in colour.
Interpretation
This was the underlying subsoil which extends across the excavation area.
Mound material – Group 2
Context Number – C.4
Description
This was a layer of dark black silty clay with a high density of small heat-affected stones,
all of which were angular in shape and mixed with small flecks of charcoal. It had a
maximum depth of 0.26 m and was evident in three spreads (A, B and C) across the ex-
cavated area. The spreads ranged in size from 13 – 8 m in length and 6 – 8 m in width.
The deposit was highly disturbed with re-deposited material (C.3) mixed throughout the
excavated spreads. Animal bone was recovered during the excavation of the deposit along
with an iron horse shoe and chert debitage.
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Interpretation
This deposit was the badly disturbed remains of a burnt mound The material was the dis-
carded by product of a technology which used hot stones to heat water. The disturbance
was due to land reclamation and levelling activities.
Buried Topsoil – Group 3
Context Number – C.5
Description
This was a firmly compacted, dark reddish brown silty clay with a low density of stone and
charcoal inclusions. It was from this layer that a barbed-and-tanged arrowhead was found
along with some flint and chert debitage. Some animal bone was also recovered from this
deposit during the excavation. The deposit was located directly below the mound material
in the southern half of the site.
Interpretation
This deposit was possibly a buried topsoil which was sealed by the overlying mound
material.
Modern disturbance – Group 4
Disturbed/redeposited material – Subgroup 4001
Context Number – C.3
Description
This deposit was a firmly compacted, mid yellowish-brown silty clay which few if any
inclusions. It was identified mixed through the burnt mound material.
Interpretation
The deposit has been heavily disturbed and may have originally been an alluvium deposit
introduced during wet periods and possibly as a result of a nearby turlough. The deposit
has been disturbed by the land reclamation and levelling activities.
Linear features – Subgroup 4002
Context Numbers – C.8, C.6, C.10, C.9, C.7
Description
Towards the centre of the site a linear features (C.10) 4 m long, 0.85 m wide and 0.15 m
deep was filled with a mid brownish black peaty clay (C.9). At the northern end of the site
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another linear feature (C.8) was recorded this measured 3.5m x 1.1m and was 0.48m deep
it was filled with loose sub-rounded and rounded coarse pebbles and small stones (C.6).
Modern plastic and other modern debris were identified within the loose stone. A deposit
of light greyish brown silty clay with occasional occurrence of sub-angular medium and
coarse pebbles and flecks of charcoal (C.7) filled a natural hollow in the subsoil.
Interpretation
Both of the cut features and their fills and the silty clay deposit filling a natural hollow are
modern and are the result of land reclamation and levelling work
26
36. 27
Appendix 4 Find register
Context # NMI # Category Fabric Artefact Type Grid E Grid N Short description Period Initials Date Post-ex Comments
4 1 Stone Chert Flake 108.5 118.6 Prehistoric MiM 15/05/2008
4 2 Metal Iron Horse shoe 102 118 Modern TW 18/05/2008 Incomplete.
120mmxW90.5mmxTh10.4mm
5 1 Stone Chert Flake 94.3 136.8 Prehistoric MiM 14/05/2008
iSSUE 8: EaChtra JoUrnal - iSSn 2009-2237
5 2 Stone Flint Natural chunk 109.4 123.5 Prehistoric MD 23/05/2008
5 3 Stone Flint Arrowhead 110.4 120.6 Barbed-and-tanged Prehistoric MD 18/05/2008
arrowhead.
Final arChaEologiCal ExCavation rEport
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Appendix 5 Stone artefacts
Farina Sternke
Introduction
Four lithic finds from the archaeological excavation of prehistoric site at Coldwood
(Foorkill), Co. Galway were presented for analysis (Table 1). The finds are associated with
the remains of three burnt mounds.
Thickness (mm)
Find Number
Length (mm)
Width (mm)
Condition
Complete
Con text
Material
Retouch
Cortex
Type
E3887:4:1 4 Chert Flake Slightly Rolled Yes 22 33 11 No No
E3887:5:1 5 Chert Flake Reasonably Fresh No 20 13 3 No No
E3887:5:2 5 Flint Natural Chunk
E3887:5:3 5 Flint Retouched Artefact Patinated No 25 22 5 Yes bifacial
Table 1 Composition of the Lithic Assemblage from Coldwood (Foorkill) (E3887)
Methodology
All lithic artefacts are examined visually and catalogued using Microsoft Excel. The fol-
lowing details are recorded for each artefact which measures at least 2 cm in length or
width: context information, raw material type, artefact type, the presence of cortex, arte-
fact condition, length, with and thickness measurements, fragmentation and the type of
retouch (where applicable). The technological criteria recorded are based on the terminol-
ogy and technology presented in Inizan et al. 1999. The general typological and morpho-
logical classifications are based on Woodman et al. 2006. Struck lithics smaller than 2 cm
are classed as debitage and not analysed further, unless they are retouched or of specific
significance, e.g. cores etc. The same is done with natural chunks.
Quantification
The lithic artefacts are two flaked pieces of chert (E3887:4:1 and E3887:5:1), one flaked
piece of flint (E3887:5:3) and one natural chunk of flint (E3887:5:2).
Provenance
The finds were recovered from a burnt mount layer (C4) and a buried topsoil horizon
(C5).
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Condition
The lithics survive in variable condition (Table 1) and only one artefact is complete
(E3887:5:3).
Technology/Morphology
The artefacts are two flakes (E3887:4:1 and E3887:5:1) and a retouched artefact
(E3887:5:3).
The two flakes are platform examples. Flake E3887:5:1 is missing its distal end. The
flakes measure 22 mm and 20 mm long, 33 mm and 13 mm wide and 11 mm and 3 mm
thick, respectively.
The retouched artefact is a well-made barbed-and-tanged flint arrowhead. It is slightly
bent and hence was probably abandoned prior to its use. It measures 25 mm long and 22
mm wide and 5 mm thick.
Dating
The assemblage is technologically and typologically diagnostic and dates to the Late Neo-
lithic, more specifically to the Beaker period (Woodman et al. 2006).
Conservation
The lithic artefacts do not require specific conservation, but should be stored in a dry,
stable environment. Preferably, each lithic should be bagged separately and contact with
other lithics should be avoided, so as to prevent damage and breakage, in particular edge
damage which could later be misinterpreted as retouch. Larger and heavier items are best
kept in individual boxes to avoid crushing of smaller assemblage pieces.
Discussion
The size and composition of the flaked assemblage is typical for Irish burnt mounds.
Recent excavations in the south-east of Ireland revealed a similar pattern of very small as-
semblages found in associated fulachta fiadh, e.g. the N25 Waterford By-Pass (Woodman
2006), a pattern that is replicated elsewhere in Ireland.
Conclusion
The four lithic finds from the archaeological excavation at Coldwood (Foorkill), Co. Gal-
way are two chert flakes, a barbed-and-tanged flint arrowhead and a natural chunk of
flint. The assemblage is technologically and typologically diagnostic and dates to the
Beaker period.
This site makes a minor contribution to the evidence for prehistoric settlement and
land use in Co. Galway.
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Recommendations for Illustration
Barbed-and-Tanged Arrowhead (E3887:5:3)
Bibliography
Inizan, M.-L., M. Reduron-Ballinger, H. Roche and J. Tixier, 1999. Technology and
Terminology of Knapped Stone 5. CREP, Nanterre.
Woodman, P.C. 2006. The significance of the lithic assemblages from the archaeological
excavations on the Waterford By-Pass. Unpublished Report for Headland
Archaeology - Ireland Ltd.
Woodman, P. C., Finlay, N. and E. Anderson, 2006. The Archaeology of a Collection:
The Keiller-Knowles Collection of the National Museum of Ireland. National
Museum of Ireland Monograph Series 2. Wordwell, Bray.
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40. Coldwood/Foorkill-E3887 http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e3887-coldwood-foorkill-co-galway/
Appendix 6 Animal bone report
Margaret McCarthy
The excavations at Coldwood yielded a total sample of 14 animal bones. The main burnt
mound deposit (C4) contained a fragmented cow molar and the distal portion of an adult
sheep tibia. Seven fragments of indeterminate bone were also recovered from this deposit.
In the southern half of the site, a buried topsoil horizon (C5) beneath the burnt mound
layer contained the distal portion of a calcaneum of an adult cow as well as fragments of
large and medium sized mammals that were too small to identify to species. Two of these
bones were totally calcined from being in contact with intense heat for a considerable
period of time.
Cow S/G* LM* MM* Indet* Total
C4 1 1 7 9
C5 1 1 3 5
TOTAL 2 1 1 3 7 14
Table 1: Distribution of fauna by individual context
S/G* Sheep/Goat LM* Large mammal MM* Medium mammal INDET* Indeterminate
The whole site was disturbed by 1980s land improvement works and the context of
recovery is not entirely reliable for any of the bones.
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