County: Galway Site name: GORTNAHOON
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A024/3.20
Author: Marta Muñiz Pérez, for CRDS Ltd.
Site type: Burnt pit, Burnt spread and Kiln
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 571904m, N 725766m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.281476, -8.421294
This excavation was undertaken as part of testing for the proposed N6 Galway–Ballinasloe road scheme, Contract 3, which consisted of the excavation of test-trenches with mechanical diggers over a distance of c. 15km. The work was commissioned by the Galway County Council National Roads Design Office and sponsored by the National Roads Authority. Testing was carried out between 4 and 6 October 2005.
The site was situated on the northern slope of a low hill, overlooking a substantial bog that extended towards the north-east. No archaeological remains were apparent on the site prior to testing. An area of 1000m2 was excavated in trenches, which were laid out along the centre-line of the road with perpendicular offsets. Archaeological features identified consisted mainly of charcoal spreads and pits concentrated in five different areas, from east to west.
Area 1 revealed a keyhole-shaped pit with large quantities of charcoal and an adjacent stone-packed post-hole. Three subcircular charcoal pits and one charcoal spread over 5m in diameter, containing several layers, were uncovered in Area 2. Red oxidised clays to the base of the pits suggested burning in situ. Small quantities of burnt bone were visible within the fills of the pits. Area 3 was 60m west of Area 2. The land between the two areas could not be tested, as it was under cultivation. Area 3 revealed three rectangular pits with charcoal and burnt bone and four circular pits with charcoal. Only one circular pit with charcoal, of 1m diameter, was found in Area 4.
Finally Area 5 was located some 350m to the west. This consisted of a shallow charcoal pit surrounded by three possible stake-holes. The features appeared isolated. They were fully investigated.
No finds were recovered, either from topsoil or in association with the features. The absence of monuments in the area is notable. It was felt, however, that the features were of an archaeological nature. It was recommended that a sufficient area encompassing Areas 1–4 be stripped, totalling c. 2000m2. No further work was proposed for Area 5.
Unit 4, Dundrum Business Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14
