County: Sligo Site name: DRUMCLIFFE SOUTH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Joyce Enright
Site type: Ecclesiastical enclosure
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 568058m, N 842003m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.325754, -8.491026
The area opened for excavation in 1985 was completed, It produced details of the re-cutting of the foundations of the polygonal structure, a further series of stratified pits and postholes and the final stratigraphy indicating the relationship of the N-S ditch with the E-W ditches.
The putative kiln was also excavated and confirmed to be of the key-hole class. Charcoal in situ in the kiln and in the partly backfilled ditch (the north edge of which underlay the kiln) will be submitted for radiocarbon dating. The flue entrance lay on the south-west side of the kiln. The putative furnace proved to be a cast-out fire from such a kiln, overlying a stratified pit.
The relationship between the two activity areas - the kiln/pits/polygonal structure on one side and the area of the cultivation ridges on the other - showed that the wall foundation built by Sligo County Council in 1979 was partially co-extensive with the change of activities. That, together with the presence of an archaeological activity of an (as yet) undetermined nature and the landscaping work carried out by the County Council in 1985/6, seriously hindered interpretation of this vital area.
In all, eleven weeks of excavation were carried out completing the present phase of excavations which commenced in 1980. Finance for the final season was totally inadequate and as no finance is available for the definitive report the date for completion of this is now unscheduled.
'Raheen', Kilmacowen, Ballysadare, Co. Sligo.
