2004:1468 - GALEY, KNOCKCROGHERY, Roscommon

Phase 2 of a large housing development was initiated during 2004 and all associated groundworks were monitored. Prior to this, a series of test-trenches were cut and two areas of archaeology turned up; both were located in areas that would have been directly affected by construction (Excavations 2002, No. 1608).

Feature A initially took the form of a subcircular area of burnt and baked red/black clay roughly 1m in diameter, with a small context of charcoal-stained clay against its north-east edge. At a slightly lower level, a sticky brown partly stony clay 0.11m thick (max.) was evident, with a number of small stones along the north side having possibly formed rough edging. To the west of this and in close proximity were mildly concentrated charcoal-stained features and very small areas of sticky brown clay, together with heavilt burnt red clay.

The initial burnt area was underlain by baked clay of various colours, oval shaped, 1.1m by 0.8m and 0.15m thick on average. A small solid piece of charcoal was recovered from the base of this context and sent for dating. Just to the west of this, four concentrated bands of black charcoal 1.3m in maximum length and 0.1m wide probably represented in situ burning of timber. There was also further orange baked clay in this area. This overall area of burnt material measured 2.3m north-south by 4m. It comprised a circular pit 1m across and a maximum of 0.35m deep. This pit was dug into the grey gravel and, while the majority of its component material was burnt baked clay, a small clay context at the base had not been burnt; in addition there was no evidence of burn staining on the base or sides of the pit, suggesting that the burning activity was not carried out on site. This pit lay in the east sector of a larger irregular ill-defined hollow measuring 4m by 2.3m and 0.45m deep. While this also contained contexts of burnt clay and some burnt stone, there was no evidence of any burning to its base or sides.

Clearly, a large amount of burning had taken place on or near the site, although, because of the absence of finds, it is not clear whether this related to industrial or domestic activity. No evidence in the form of seed or metalworking remains was present in the feature to help suggest its function. It does not appear likely that it represents the remains of either a kiln or a furnace and it has no obvious association with a fulacht fiadh. Microanalysis of the fill material may shed some light, while the charcoal will hopefully provide a date for its period of use. The most likely suggestion is that the area is one where burnt or burning material or waste was dumped - in fact, the linear bands of charcoal appear likely to have been timbers that burned or smouldered to charcoal when ignited in situ.

Feature B was two narrow areas of concentrated charcoal spreads, which when excavated provided no finds or other contexts. These spreads were unconfined and appeared to have been randomly dumped or created at this site.

Feature C was composed of four post-hole-type cavities that became evident on the west edge of the ground monitored for this season. No other postholes were evident and these four formed the west edge of an area that measures at most 7m north-south by 3.5m. Each one is roughly equidistant from its neighbours and they appear to have represented foundation sockets for considerable posts. The overall outline of the feature cannot be determined, because only four survive, but a tentative circular outline can be surmised. In Socket 1 (0.73m north-south by 0.57m by 0.65m deep max.) the upper fill, 0.18m thick, consisted of a black/brown stony clay. Below this was a similar but stone-free clay, 0.25m thick, but with flecks of charcoal near its base. At the base there was a grey lime gravel, 0.17m thick, and this contained one burned red sandstone. Socket 2 (0.64m east-west by 0.46m by 0.65m deep) was located 1.6m to the north. Its upper context was a black/brown stony clay, 0.45m thick at most. A small number of stones were set into the sides of this pit. Below this layer was a grey gravel 0.2m thick that sat directly on the yellow daub. The gravel fill contained one piece of burnt sandstone and this socket tapered considerably to the base. Socket 3 was roughly pear-shaped (0.55m north-north-east/south-south-west by 0.4m by 0.65m deep). It was located 1.9m to north-north-east of Socket 2 and its fill was also similar to the latter. At the base a grey gravel fill sat on the yellow daub and two pieces of burnt red sandstone came from the gravel. Socket 4 was roughly oval-shaped (0.6m north-east/south-west by 0.55m by 0.52m deep) and located 1.9m to north-east of Socket 3. The fill of this socket was similar to those above, but there was no burnt stone found near the base.

All four sockets had been cut into the boulder clay, which consists of a hard yellow daub.