County: Clare Site name: CARRAHIL (BGE 3/6/9)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1341
Author: Emer Dennehy, for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd
Site type: Pit
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 539049m, N 686942m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.929836, -8.906552
This site was exposed during monitoring of topsoil-stripping along the route of a Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West. Five archaeological features and two phases of activity were identified.
Phase I is marked by the excavation of two conjoining pits. Pit I was subcircular, measuring 0.95m north–south by 1.95m by 0.17m deep. Pit II was quadrangular, measuring 2.2m north-west/south-east by 2.05m by 0.68m deep. It contained two distinct fills, the lower of which consisted of 40% burnt sandstone in a mid-grey clay–sand matrix. The upper fill of this pit and the fill of Pit I consisted of 60% sandstone and limestone in a black clay–silt matrix. The lower fill of Pit II indicated that Pit I, though part of the same phase of activity, was of a later date and that the two were subsequently used in tandem.
Phase II is marked by the excavation of two troughs and the recutting of Pit II. Trough I was subrectangular, measuring 2.3m north-east/south-west by 2.05m by 0.2m deep. The basal fill contained 60% burnt and unburnt limestone and sandstone in a black sand–silt matrix. An intermediary fill, found solely in the western quadrant, was very similar to the surrounding natural and indicated a period of abandonment. The upper fill contained 30% burnt limestone in a brown silt–clay matrix. Trough II, an irregularly shaped cut, measuring 1.9m north–south by 0.94m, was 0.39m deep. The basal fill was composed of 25% burnt sandstone in a light grey silt–sand matrix with 4% charcoal pieces. The upper fill was composed of 10% sandstone in an orange/yellow clay–sand matrix. The recut of Pit II measured 1.26m north–south and had a maximum depth of 0.46m. The fill was composed of 70% burnt sandstone and limestone in a black clay–silt matrix.
The multiple fills in each feature, with the exception of Pit I, indicate the repeated use of the site over a period of time. The dimensions, shape and deposits indicate that all three pits served the same or similar functions and were in use simultaneously. The retained water in the troughs indicates the heating of water, although the volume of water was limited by the shallow nature of the troughs.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
