1997:221 - MAINISTIR CHIARÁIN, Oghil (Inis Mór), Galway

The second season of excavation at Mainistir Chiaráin, Inis Mór, took place over six weeks between June and August 1997.Excavation in 1996 had focused on Structure A, the upstanding structure to the south of the church (Excavations 1996, 44–5). This was a domestic building constructed in the late 16th to early 17th century. Underlying this, a second structure, B, was identified. This lay at right angles to the church and abutted it. The occupation level and hearth of Structure B were identified. A metalled surface and paving extended to the south of Structure B and, to the west, an enclosing wall was constructed between the cliff to the south and the south-west corner of the church.The cutting between the church and Structure A was extended to examine the relationship of Building B to the church. The construction cuts of the west wall of Building B and of the church indicate that these structures were roughly contemporary, although the construction of the church preceded that of Building B. Rubble built up in the area between the church and Building A, and underlying the occupation layer identified in 1996, indicates a structural collapse of Building B and possibly of the church prior to a second phase of occupation of B. The rubble, which parallels the church wall, contains evidence of intensive burning.Excavation within Structure B identified layers of clay and sandy deposits laid down as flooring during the construction. The position of the robbed-out south wall of Structure B was confirmed as these layers respected the line of the wall. To the south of Structure B the metalled surface with paving was seen to extend across the width of the cutting, underlying the western enclosing wall and the east wall of Structure A. Underlying this surface were successive layers of soil and stone overlying the rubble of an earlier retaining wall. Associated with this rubble was an area of small squarish paving stones.Finds from the construction level of the church included a bronze dress-pin, a fragment of a jet bracelet, several bone points and bone toggles, two bone beads and a quantity of coarse unglazed pottery. The bronze dress-pin is 190mm long and has scroll terminals. An incised herringbone pattern runs the entire length of the shaft and head of the pin.A geophysical survey of the area immediately surrounding the church was carried out by a team under the direction of Dr Dan Larson of California State University, using a Cesium Vapor magnetometer. The results of this survey are still being processed. Analysis of the animal bone recovered during the 1996 season is being carried out by John Soderberg of the University of Minnesota. Preliminary results indicate a higher incidence of pig bone at this site, relative to either cow or sheep, providing a contrast to the usual composition of faunal remains at other medieval sites.A further season of excavation at Mainistir Chiaráin is planned for the summer of 1998. This excavation was funded by Dúchas The Heritage Service, Departments of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, on the recommendation of the National Committee for Archaeology of the Royal Irish Academy, and by University Research Expeditions Program, Berkeley.

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