County: Clare Site name: KNOCKNARANHY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0051
Author: Martin Fitzpatrick, Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.
Site type: Mound
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 510776m, N 698023m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.025446, -9.330020
Commissioned by Clare County Council, this work involved the excavation of two mounds in the townland of Knocknaranhy on the outskirts of Lisdoonvarna. The sites, which were located along the proposed roadway to the new treatment plant, were identified in the course of field-walking and subsequent monitoring of boreholes associated with the Sewerage and Sewage Disposal Scheme.
Site 1 consisted of a low rise 0.5–0.75m high located some 30m from a stream in an area of marshland. Measuring c. 16m north–south x 7m, it formed a roughly U-shaped feature. The removal of sod and topsoil revealed the outline of an irregularly shaped spread (5.5m x 3m) of decayed stones. A grey marl layer was found surrounding the feature and partly overlying it. A shallow drainage channel (0.4m wide x 0.48m deep) was uncovered 1.5m south of the spread. No features/artefacts of archaeological significance were uncovered at this site.
Site 2, a mound, was also located in an area of marshland with drainage channels throughout. A trench measuring 15m x 13m was excavated to investigate this site. The excavation produced no artefacts but did reveal a well-preserved oval mound (9.7m x 8.8m) of decayed and burnt stones. While no hearth or trough feature was associated with the mound, the excavation did uncover a number of post-holes, and this appears to indicate a more recent field boundary running through the site.
Ballydavid South, Athenry, Co. Galway
