County: Clare Site name: SCATTERY ISLAND
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 67:24 Licence number: 01E0662
Author: Dave Pollock
Site type: Habitation site
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 497098m, N 652303m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.612222, -9.519444
To assess the archaeological impact of providing visitor facilities on Scattery Island a number of small test-trenches were cut by hand in July/August and December. The excavations were undertaken in and around the roofless cottages near the present pier. The cottages were built in the mid-19th century, close to the most favourable landing-place; the distribution of earlier building remains suggests that this was also the medieval landing-place.
Post-medieval garden soil overlay the remains of a few buildings (clay floors, construction debris) associated with the late medieval tower-house, and these overlay cultivation soil over widespread building remains. The widespread remains (clay floors, metalled surfaces, scorching) suggest a large settlement close to the shore in the early or high medieval period.
A potential tidal mill site was identified built into a spit at the edge of a lagoon to the north, and possible harbour walls c. 50m seaward of the present shoreline.
Knockrower Road, Stradbally, Co. Waterford
