2000:0849 - CLOONGOWNAGH, Roscommon

From April 1999 to June 2000, a full archaeological excavation was undertaken on this ringfort, identified during field-walking. The excavation was carried out on behalf of Roscommon County Council and the National Roads Authority as part of the Rockingham to Cortober Road Project. Half of the ringfort was located within the bounds of the proposed land-take for the road.

Excavation of the ringfort revealed a complex Iron Age settlement surviving under the Early Christian settlement. The Iron Age occupation was preserved under the ringfort bank and extended 4–5m into the interior of the site, at the southern end. Further settlement was uncovered during soil-stripping to the north-west and south-east of the ringfort. The Iron Age settlement uncovered has been dated to between the 1st and 4th century AD. The settlement comprised structural features, several large pits, scatters of post-/stake-holes and remnants of stone surfaces. The settlement extended for a length of 120m north–south, along the road corridor. No associated enclosing earthwork was uncovered.

Eight structures were identified with clearly defined foundations. Structure 1 was complete and subrectangular in outline, measuring 9.7m by 6.2m, located at the north of the site. Structure 2 was incomplete, measuring 9.5m by 1m, and had been truncated by the ringfort ditch. Structure 3B was a complete circle with a diameter of 6.7m, which had reused the earlier C-shaped foundation of Structure 3A. Structure 4 was an incomplete circle, 4.1m in diameter and truncated by the ringfort ditch. Structure 5 was a complete C-shaped structure, 5.4m in diameter. Structure 6 was also a complete C-shaped structure, 5m in diameter. The exposed section of Structure 7 was circular in outline and measured 4.1m by 1.35m. The remainder of the structure extended beyond the remit of the excavation.

The only structure conclusively dated was Structure 3B (AD 26). The foundation trenches of these structures did not produce any evidence of post- or stake-holes. The deep foundations of Structure 1, together with the post- and stake-holes along the edges and within the interior of structures 3A and 3B, suggest that they were roofed. However, no evidence was recorded for building fabric, and no evidence for sunken domestic hearths was uncovered, which would confirm the use of the buildings. Structure 1 produced the only evidence that might indicate the use of a raised hearth, in the form of numerous stake-holes towards the centre of the building. There was no evidence indicating domestic use for any of these structures. It is likely that Structures 5, 6 and possibly 4 were simple C-shaped shelters, facing south and availing of maximum sunshine.

Numerous pits, post-/stake-holes and ancillary features were recorded during the excavation. A large pit that showed extensive burning to the south of Structure 3B produced a very similar date, AD 25, indicating that they were contemporaneous. Nothing was found within the fill of this pit to indicate its function. Charred cereal grains (oats/barley) were recovered from several pits. One such pit produced a date of AD 131.

Other pits excavated may have had any range of use, from storage to industrial hearths or transient hearths used for cooking. Many of these pits had been severely truncated, and it was impossible to determine their original use. Numerous posts were uncovered. They may have been used to provide support for structures of which no record survives or may have simply been two to three posts in a line used as racks to dry skins. Remains of stone surfaces were uncovered, leading from the higher ground where the settlement was situated to the bog to the south.

To the south of the site, at the edge of the bog, a small fulacht fiadh dating from the 4th century AD was uncovered. This date may indicate that occupation of the site was still ongoing at this period. The mound of the fulacht fiadh was horseshoe-shaped, measuring 3m by 2.6m, with the hearth situated in the centre of the horseshoe. The trough was located directly in front of the mound. It had been dug directly into the underlying clay. No evidence for brushwood or timber lining was found.

No enclosing feature such as a bank, ditch or timber palisade was found during excavation, suggesting that this settlement was open. The lack of domestic debris may indicate that this was an industrial or work area, peripheral to a larger settlement.

The ringfort enclosure at Cloongownagh was clearly defined by a bank and ditch. The ditch was earth-cut and U-shaped, with an average width of 2.3m at the surface and 1m at the base. Depth varied from 1m to 1.5m. The upcast was used to construct the bank. Very little of the bank survived. It had either been levelled to the interior or deposited in the ditch as backfill. No original entrance or causeway contemporary with the ringfort was found. The backfill of the ditch has been dated to the 10th century.

The interior of the ringfort was badly disturbed by later ridge and furrow cultivation. The best-preserved features were deeply cut pits, post-holes or linear trenches. Other features did survive, but they were either badly disturbed or truncated by later cultivation. The occupation in the interior of the fort has been dated to the 7th–9th centuries. However, with only half of this site excavated, it is not possible to draw any definite conclusions regarding the occupation and overall use of the site.

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