County: Galway Site name: NEWCASTLE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA087-196 Licence number: A024/3.17
Author: Gerry Mullins, CRDS Ltd.
Site type: Settlement deserted - medieval
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 575293m, N 726867m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.291537, -8.370573
Testing was carried out at Newcastle on the route of the proposed N6 Galway–Ballinasloe road scheme, Contract 3, under ministerial directions. The work was commissioned by the Galway County Council National Roads Design Office and sponsored by the National Roads Authority. The site is less than 4km west-south-west of the village of Aughrim, in east Galway. Approximately 3175m2 of topsoil was removed by tracked mechanical diggers during testing.
An earthwork, SMR 87:196, presently unclassified, is located 12.5m north of the proposed development; it appears to be an early medieval settlement site. Eight test-trenches were manually excavated on the site by Jerry O’Sullivan in 2003 (Excavations 2003, No. 746, 03E1735) and a recommendation was made that topsoil-stripping be carried out over an extended area in order to reveal any further features of archaeological significance.
A total of 64 features of varying degrees of archaeological significance were revealed during the course of mechanical soil-stripping over an area of 2425m2. These features included ditch cuts associated with the monument, plough furrows, burnt spreads, burnt pits, hearths, post-holes, drains and a linear feature. They range in date, based on the evidence available, from the medieval through to the modern period.
A north–south curvilinear ditch, 45m in length, 2.45m in width and 1m in depth, is located south of SMR 87:196. It is probable that this ditch represents a levelled portion of the monument. Two north–south-orientated ditches, centrally located, and an east–west example were revealed during testing. Based on their locations within the site, the ditches might represent a field system. Three curvilinear features are located between two of the ditches. Based on proximity to the monument and the potential field system, preliminary interpretation suggests that all three are medieval. The largest measures 17.5m in length by 1.1m in width by 0.12m in depth. The others vary from 5m to 7m in length, 0.5 to 0.77m in width and 0.13 to 0.1 in depth.
The burnt pits, hearths and post-holes may possibly be medieval, or related to agricultural activities. Samples will be sent for analysis and dating. There is also evidence of a drainage system, possibly associated with the modern forestry plantation, as well as modern linear plough furrows in which a modern glass sherd was recovered.
There were no significant artefacts recovered. Some modern glass sherds and a clay-pipe stem fragment were recovered from topsoil during the course of the testing.
It is recommended that a full excavation of this site be undertaken. Topsoil was not mechanically removed from an area of c. 125m2 during Phase 1 testing due to its proximity to the monument and the presence of potential archaeology. It is recommended that this area be hand-stripped of topsoil prior to excavation.
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