2021:701 - KNOCKYCLOVAUN (1), Clare

Excavation by Rubicon Heritage Ltd at Knockyclovaun 1 was undertaken as part of the Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Crossing and R494 Improvements Scheme, Archaeological Consultancy Services Contract (Phase 2). The excavation was carried out on behalf of, and funded by, Clare County Council.

The excavated features at Knockyclovaun 1 comprised three phases of activity: Phase I was represented by the Early Neolithic Period—3701–3533 cal BC (SUERC-106144; 4851±22 BP) which consisted of a single deposit C035 in Area D, Phase II dominated Knockyclovaun 1 and was concentrated in Area C which dated to the Middle Bronze Age 1621–1511 cal BC (SUERC-107030; 3307±25 BP) and 1411–1264 cal BC (SUERC-106148; 3069±24) and Phase III consisted of agricultural furrows and field boundaries dating from the Medieval to the early modern period.

Knockyclovaun 1 (Area A)
Two phases of activity relating to Phase II and III was identified at Knockyclovaun 1 (Area A). Phase II comprised pit C003 and deposit C006. Two radiocarbon dates ranging from 1495–1316 cal BC (SUERC-106140; 3141±21 BP) and 1505–1428 cal BC (SUERC-106141; 3201±21 BP) from barley grains in deposit C006 provided a Middle Bronze Age date for this activity. Phase III activity was represented by furrows.

Knockyclovaun 1 (Area B)
Phase II activity was identified at Knockyclovaun 1 (Area B), comprising of a burnt deposit C005. Two radiocarbon dates of 1501–1421 cal BC (SUERC-106142; 3186±21 BP) and 1498–1401 cal BC (SUERC-106143; 3159±21 BP) from barley grains in deposit C005 provided a Middle Bronze Age date for this activity. Phase III activity was represented by furrows.

Knockyclovaun 1 (Area C)
Two phases of activity were identified at Knockyclovaun 1 (Area C). Phase II was represented by 134 stake-holes, 26 post-holes, five deposits, one slot trench and five pits. Radiocarbon dating of this activity placed it within the Middle Bronze Age, sometime between 1621–1511 cal BC (SUERC-107030; 3307±25 BP) and 1411–1264 cal BC (SUERC-106148; 3069±24). This possibly represents a Middle Bronze Age house and associated activity.

Phase III was represented by later agricultural furrows which truncated many of the Phase II features.

The Phase II archaeological features identified in Area C, likely represent the remains of Middle Bronze Age domestic activity as evidenced by several possible structures including possible windbreaks, screens or drying racks along with the presence of prehistoric pottery (E005277:52:01), a chert scraper (E005277:285:1) and burnt bone which occurred in four broad feature clusters.

The first of these broad feature clusters was represented by pit C062, post-holes C319, C365, C325 and a curving linear arrangement of 21 stake-holes which is located in the south-west of the site. A single body sherd of prehistoric pottery (E005277:52:1) was recovered from the fill of pit C062 which was identified as possibly deriving from the Middle Bronze Age and domestic in nature (Appendix 9). It is likely that post-holes C319 and C365 supported a lightweight structure, possibly a spit, over pit C062.

A curving linear arrangement of 21 stake-holes measuring approximately 3.25 m in length was located 1 m to the southeast of pit C062 and post-holes C319, C365, C325. The line of stake-holes possibly represent a temporary screen, windbreak or drying rack associated with pit C062.

Situated to the immediate east of the first broad feature cluster were post-holes C069, C284, C087, C015, C232, C250, C071, C425 and C426 which formed an arc. A second line of three post-holes were located in the middle of this possible structure—C350, C309, and C081. Other than an approximate line no relationship between these features, or possible function, could be determined.

To the northwest of post-holes C013, C015 and C087, a cluster of stake-holes, representing another cluster of features. A chert scraper was recovered from the fill of post-hole C285 (E005277:285:1). The scraper is not closely chronologically diagnostic but is interpreted as broadly dating from the Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (Brady 2024). A radiocarbon determination from a barley grain within the same fill returned a Middle Bronze Age date ranging from 1429–1291 cal BC (SUERC-106149; 3101±24 BP). In considering the radiocarbon determination from both the fill of post-hole C285, and indeed the wider site, the chert scraper may have been manufactured and deposited from the Neolithic to Early Bronze Age. However, given the nature of context C285, it is possible that the scraper is residual and was accidentally incorporated into the fill material during the creation of the post-hole (Brady 2024).

The remains recorded at Knockyclovaun 1 do not combine to create an easily discernible pattern; however, they do include all the elements of a Bronze Age house in a cluster that seems most likely to be the remains of a domestic Middle Bronze Age settlement. If we interpret the larger pits to the northwest and west of the cluster and the small stakehole alignment to the southwest as external features, and the unusual triangular arrangement to the east as an entrance, the central cluster is of approximately 5.5 m in diameter, which falls within the normal range of Middle Bronze Age houses.

The triangular stake- and post-hole arrangement to the east of the cluster is certainly structural; however, we cannot state with certainty whether it is an entrance to a larger structure or a small free-standing building. However, it the period to which it belongs—the Middle Bronze Age—is a time during which we know house entrances were elaborate. In this vein, the possibility that this was a particularly elaborate entrance is an interesting avenue to explore that in time may help highlight other similar examples. The stake-holes appear arranged in pairs, likely to support interwoven wattle panels arrangements, particularly to the south-east and north-west sides and this is open to the east, with pits, likely postholes flanking an entrance. There is also a stakehole arrangement along its western side; however, it is notable that these are less densely distributed than those on the other sides and conceivable they supported some form of partial or movable screen. Typically, entrances to Middle Bronze Age houses were found to the southeast, suggesting a concern with the rising sun (Cleary 2015, chapter 4). The elaboration of entrances during the period is likely to reflect an expression of the identity of those that lived in the house and at Knockyclovaun 1, if this was an entrance to a house, the inhabitants would appear to have been particularly concerned with this.

Knockyclovaun 1 (Area D)
Three phases of activity were identified at Knockyclovaun 1 (Area D). Phase I was represented by a single charcoal-rich deposit C035 which returned a date of 3701–3533 cal BC (SUERC-106144; 4851±22 BP), the Early Neolithic period from a hazelnut shell. Due to the presence of only one deposit deriving from this period at the site, limited information can be ascertained.

Phase II was represented by a deposit C035, an area of in-situ burning C020 and a pit C017. This phase dated to the Middle Bronze Age with a radiocarbon determination of 1621–1511 cal BC (SUERC-107030; 3307±25 BP).

Pit C049 was located to the north-west of the excavated area and contained evidence of in-situ burning. Pit C049 was cut by Phase III furrow C038.

Knockyclovaun 1 (Area E)
Phase III excavated features at Knockyclovaun 1 (Area E) comprised a large shallow pit C029 which was interpreted as modern field clearance.

Phase III was represented in Areas A–E and primarily consisted of agricultural furrows. In Area A, these furrows had an SE–NW orientation which truncated Phase II pit C003 to the east and west. These furrows were observed with a similar orientation in Areas B and C. Within Area C, Phase III furrows were orientated WSW–ENE which truncated many Phase II features including stake-holes, pits and a spread. The width of these would suggest they are the remains of a hand dug ridge and furrow system, rather than the remains of plough furrows. In Area D, Phase III was represented by a boundary ditch visible on historical mapping, and a series of predominantly WSW–ENE aligned furrows.

Environmental evidence
The environmental remains were consistent with activity of a domestic nature in the form of managed landscapes. The charcoal analyses from Knockyclovaun 1 indicates a local woodland resource comprising mainly of oak, hazel and ash with other components including elm, alder, fruit tree-type, willow and possibly blackthorn existed during the Middle Bronze Age. The overall assemblage from the dated samples demonstrates the preferred use of oak and hazel by Middle Bronze Age communities for woodfuel showing the deliberate selection of these trees.

The archaeobotanical evidence uncovered naked and hulled barley indicating an arable economy at Knockyclovaun 1 during the Middle Bronze Age. Small quantities of wheat and rye were also present, indicating their cultivation also at this time. Five grains were recorded as wheat, one grain each displayed morphologies consistent with spelt and emmer while one grain of rye was recorded.

Fruit and nut species formed a small proportion of the material recovered and consisted of common species bramble, sloe, and elder which were likely growing locally and collected from the vicinity of the site.

Low quantities of burnt bone was retrieved from four soil samples within Area C. The fragment edges were worn and rounded in places suggesting that these fragments had been displaced and disturbed before being incorporated into the fills of these features. None of the fragments were identifiable as to species or skeletal element, resulting in limited interpretation.

Further Middle Bronze Age activity was situated at Knockyclovaun 4 (E005280) on the scheme (Sutton et, al. 2023). This consisted of field clearance activity