County: Clare Site name: BALLYNACALLY (BGE 3/30/1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1013
Author: Graham Hull, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Metalworking site
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 526816m, N 663203m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.714989, -9.083156
This site was examined as part of Bord Gáis Éireann’s Pipeline to the West. Three cut features and two deposits of charcoal were excavated, and all lay within an area measuring 2m by 2m. The discrete nature of the features and the similarity of the fills indicated that the deposits were contemporary with each other. The fills were all a black, charcoal-rich, fine silt with occasional small, angular, limestone inclusions.
A circular shallow scoop had a diameter of 0.38m and was 0.08m deep. A circular concave pit had a diameter of 0.6m and was 0.14m deep. The pit fill also contained small quantities of vitrified silt and iron slag. The depth of the pit, in comparison to the other cut features, suggested that this was the focus of the semi-industrial activity. The pit should perhaps be thought of as a hearth for metal production. A shallow linear cut was 1m long, 0.35m wide and 0.05m deep. Two small amorphous deposits of black charcoal-rich silt were also recorded.
Samples of the vitrified silt and iron slag were taken, and analysis of production techniques may indicate a date for this small ironworking site.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
