County: Clare Site name: RACORCRAUN (BGE 3/10/5)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1153
Author: Graham Hull, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Cremation pit
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 537457m, N 682723m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.891738, -8.929424
This site was examined as part of the Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West project. The site lies on a south-east-facing slope near a hilltop. There were views in all directions bar north-west. A neighbouring hilltop lies c. 400m to the south, and two pits were excavated there (see Nos 94 and 95, Excavations 2002, 02E1154 and 02E1155). A possible ringfort and a small lough were situated c. 150m to the east in fields below the site.
A single cremation pit was excavated. It was circular (diameter 0.34m) and had a bowl-shaped profile (0.19m deep). The single pit fill was a grey/brown fine silt with very occasional small stone inclusions (diameter typically 0.05m). Cremated bone was present as a discrete deposit near the base of the pit. Some charcoal flecking was also recorded. Redeposited natural was observed central within the upper part of the fill.
A 100% sample of the funerary deposit was taken. This will be wet sieved to enhance bone and charcoal recovery. It is intended to submit a sample of charcoal or bone for radiocarbon dating. Species identification of the burnt wood is also envisaged.
The excavated feature most probably represents a human burial of perhaps Bronze Age date. The discrete placement of the cremated bone suggests that it may have been held in a small container such as a bag. Some effort had then seemingly been made to mask the burial with old subsoil.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
