County: Clare Site name: KILKISHEN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0551
Author: Fiona Rooney, Arch. Consultancy Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 549632m, N 673168m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.807152, -8.747041
This project concerns the monitoring of the Kilkishen Sewerage Scheme, on behalf of Clare County Council. The scheme will involve the construction of a new treatment works site in the vicinity of Kilkishen town, and the installation of new pipelines throughout the town. Monitoring was carried out between July 2000 and April 2001.
In most areas the ground disturbance revealed a stratigraphy which consisted of peat overlying natural subsoil. In other areas the road surfaces and topsoil were found to be directly overlying natural bedrock.
Two sites of archaeological significance were revealed. During the mechanical excavation of MH27, a burnt layer, part of a probable fulacht fiadh, was discovered. The material had a maximum depth of 0.24m and was at least 4m in width, with its full extent not revealed during excavation. The layer consisted of charcoal fragments and reddish orange angular stones. It seems likely that that the excavation of MH27 impinged on the edge of a fulacht fiadh without damaging the main body of the site.
During the construction of the treatment works site a horizontal mill was discovered and excavated (Excavations 2000, No. 60, 00E0670).
No other features/deposits or artefacts of archaeological significance were encountered during the course of monitoring of the excavation of groundworks.
Ballydavid South, Athenry, Co. Galway
