County: Sligo Site name: FEALL A'MHUILINN, Inishmurray
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 30:1-30:2 Licence number: 99E0383
Author: Jerry O'Sullivan
Site type: Water mill - horizontal-wheeled
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 556745m, N 854070m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.433335, -8.666672
The stone-lined undercroft of a horizontal watermill was identified by an archaeological survey of Inishmurray (1998). (The adjacent land parcel is called Feall a'Mhuilinn, and a horizontal millstone now lies within one of the churches in the cashel.) The remains of the mill are at the outfall of the island's only stream, where it breached a low sea cliff above a rubble beach. Like the other sites investigated in 1999 (Nos 792–4, Excavations 1999), the remains of the mill were suffering ongoing marine erosion. Limited investigation in 1999 aimed to recover samples for radiocarbon dating from the mill and from an adjacent wall remnant, thought to represent a kiln.
Well-stratified burnt sediments were found near the base of the mill wall. These abutted the rear of the wall within the cut of the undercroft pit and thus represent well-sealed contexts formed during the construction of the mill. Charcoals from these will be submitted for radiocarbon dating.
The adjacent wall remnant was not a kiln, as first suspected, but proved to be a low terrace revetment for a cultivation plot on the cliff edge. A single sherd of gravel-tempered ware provides a terminus post quem for this feature in the mid- to late 17th century.
This work was commissioned by Dúchas and undertaken by Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division. No further archaeological work by GUARD is proposed at this site. Dúchas may in due course attempt consolidation of the remains of the mill undercroft.
5 Bellevue Road, Edinburgh EH7 4DA
