2002:0147 - CLOONAGOWAN (BGE 3/6/5), Clare

The site was exposed during monitoring of topsoil-stripping along Section 3 of the Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West, from Goatisland, Co. Limerick, to Gort, Co. Galway, c. 150m south-east of the N18, 3.2km south of Crusheen village, Co. Clare. The feature lies at the base of a small hillock that rises gradually to the south.

The site was initially identified as a subcircular charcoal spread measuring 0.8m north–south by 0.4m, with a depth of 0.34m. Two phases of activity were identified at the site, with four contexts excavated.

The first phase began with the excavation of a subcircular stepped post-hole into which a post, 0.18m in diameter, was inserted. The basal fill of the post-hole was a packing layer of natural and stones, used to hold the post in position. The second phase was the removal of the post in a northward direction, with the packing material being spread in this portion of the site. With the function of the post-hole effectively cancelled, the site was abandoned and the feature filled in naturally. The third and final layer was a charcoal-rich sandy silt with some limestone gravel. Owing to the close proximity of farm buildings and the thinness of the topsoil, it is likely that this layer was formed by modern activity.

It is probable that the post stood for only a short period of time. Its function may have been to act as a marker for the nearby cremation burials (No. 148, Excavations 2002, 02E1339, and No. 145, Excavations 2002, 02E1334), effectively demarcating the ritual significance of the area. Another use may have been as part of temporary fencing erected for seasonal grazing across the bogland. Results from the analysis of the charcoal recovered are pending.

2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin