2005:163 - TULLYCOMMON: Glencurran Cave, Clare

Two seasons of rescue excavations were carried out in Glencurran Cave on behalf of the DoEHLG in 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 183, 04E0432), during which time five areas were opened (Areas I to V). Human bones, animal bones, charcoal, lithics, a shale chisel, bone beads, perforated shells, amber beads, Late Bronze Age pottery and glass beads were recovered. An adult fibula from Area III produced a Middle Bronze Age date of 3035636 BP (UB-6660). The ilium of a young child found in Area IV was dated to the Late Bronze Age: 2536631 BP (UB-6661). Evidence of early medieval activity was discovered in Areas I and II. In June 2005 further excavations were carried out in Areas II, IV and V. The cave was divided into 0.5m by 0.5m grids and excavated stratigraphically. All excavated deposits were wet-sieved through a 3mm mesh sieve.

Several of the upper contexts in Area II—the D-shaped platform outside the cave entrance—were of relatively recent origin, producing fresh animal bone, modern glass, delph, plastic and what seemed to be the remnants of a small modern fire. Underlying these deposits was a gravel layer with large stones which appears to have originated from inside the cave and may have been dug up in antiquity and dumped outside the cave entrance to consolidate this area and/or create a level surface. This layer produced animal bone, at least one human bone, loose fossils, charcoal, several pieces of struck chert, a chert convex scraper, a perforated dog whelk shell (Nucella lapillus), a spindle whorl, a tanged iron knife blade and iron fragments. Underlying this stratum and immediately outside the cave entrance was a concentrated area of charcoal-rich, blackish-brown silt which may indicate the former location of a hearth. A socketed iron sickle was discovered at the northern end of Area II.

Approximately 5m of the 12m-long entrance passage (Area V) was excavated in 2004. The remaining 7m section was excavated in 2005. The uppermost silt deposit was disturbed by traffic through the cave. It produced bone, charcoal, a sherd of Late Bronze Age pottery and a clay-pipe fragment. Underlying this was a layer of stones that was thicker at the northern end, suggesting that it may comprise rubble thrown into the entrance passage from the entrance ‘chamber’, possibly in an attempt to level off the area inside the cave mouth. Fragments of amber beads and part of a clay pipe were recovered from this level.

In 2004 a 2m by 1m trench was opened in Area IV, c. 50m from the cave entrance. In 2005 this trench was extended by 3m by 1m to the west and 2m by 3m to the east. The three main strata encountered in 2004 were again identified and produced similar material: animal bones, human bones, struck chert, perforated periwinkle shells (Littorina obtusata), perforated cowrie shells (Trivia monacha), Late Bronze Age pottery, amber beads, glass beads, a quartz crystal and fossils. Of particular interest was the discovery of a concentration of bones of a young child beside a cluster of over 35 perforated cowrie and periwinkle shells. An isolated shallow area of burnt material was also discovered in the western end of Area IV.

Though osteoarchaeological analysis is not yet complete, at least four individuals are represented in the human bone assemblage from Glencurran Cave: three adults and a young child. One adult dates to the Middle Bronze Age and the child dates to the Late Bronze Age. Only radiocarbon dating will establish whether the site was used for funerary activity during other periods. Further evidence of Late Bronze Age activity is represented by sherds of two bucket-shaped vessels from Area IV and a third vessel from Area V. It is quite probable that most, if not all, of the amber beads from Area IV are contemporaneous and possibly also the perforated shells found there. The ringed pin discovered in Area I in 2004 represents early medieval activity at the cave, supported by the discovery of a tanged iron knife, spindle whorl and socketed sickle. Clearly, Glencurran Cave is a multi-period site. Post-excavation work continues.

School of Science, Institute of Technology, Sligo