County: Clare Site name: CARRAHIL (BGE 3/5/1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1449
Author: Brian Halpin, for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 539252m, N 687222m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.932374, -8.903584
Topsoil-stripping on the Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West uncovered a complex of features believed to be of prehistoric date in Carrahil townland, Co. Clare. Most of these features are pits and stake-holes cut into the yellow/orange boulder clay subsoil. Eight linear features/furrows running north-east/south-west across the site were also encountered. The entire area of interest measured 79m north–south by 11.5m. Most of the features were pits of various sizes and dimensions, evenly spread throughout the site. They were generally subcircular, irregular and U-shaped, containing numerous fills with varying amounts of charcoal, usually concentrated in the lowest layer of fill. They also contained varying amounts of stone inclusions concentrated at the base. The surface fill of most was lacking in concentrations of charcoal and stone and was seen to be the result of natural sedimentation.
One pit had a large cut measuring 3.25m north–south by 2.25m with a depth of 0.5m. It contained numerous charcoal-rich layers and burnt bone throughout. The basal fill had a high concentration of charcoal directly over a fire-reddened clay base. This was seen as evidence of intensive consecutive firing of the roasting pit. Numerous stake-holes, generally V-shaped and of very shallow depth, were encountered in the north-eastern section of the site. They did not form an obvious pattern.
No structures were present on the site. Numerous lithics of prehistoric date were recovered. These included eight scrapers, used flakes and debitage. Most, however, were surface finds. Although a small number of finds were recovered from features, it is possible that the surface finds were the result of slope wash from the hill directly to the north. The number of lithics recovered from the surface, as well as those found in the features, leads to the conclusion that this site is of prehistoric date. It was most likely an area for food preparation and waste disposal adjacent to a possible, hitherto unknown area of settlement. Specialist reports are forthcoming.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
