County: Clare Site name: BALLYQUIN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 26:58 Licence number: 01E1118
Author: Billy Quinn, ASU Ltd.
Site type: Burnt spread
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 563674m, N 682585m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.892900, -8.539840
Pre-development testing of a site at Ballyquin, Tomgraney, Co. Clare, took place on 28 and 29 November 2001. The site is within the area of archaeological constraint around a church, tower-house, round tower, cross-slab and graveyard.
The proposed project involved the construction of four dwelling-houses, a sewerage treatment system and associated works at a site opposite Tomgraney Castle near the old church. Prior to excavation the site was overgrown with trees and scrub that sloped north to south down a low hill.
Eight trial-trenches (two per unit) were excavated to an average width of 0.9–1m. Excavation exposed a general stratigraphy of dark brown, loosely compact silt, typical of woodland soil, overlying a mid-brown compact clay over natural bedrock. Only in Trench 2 was the trend interrupted by an isolated charcoal spread exposed near the north terminal. The spread, 0.6m in diameter, was not associated with any finds or features. A half-section dug through its width showed a compacted, charcoal-rich silty clay with occasional fire-shattered stones, 0.08m in depth. No other features or finds were exposed during excavation.
Purcell House, Oranmore, Co. Galway
