County: Galway Site name: Ballykeeran
Sites and Monuments Record No.: - Licence number: A024/16, E2440
Author: Brendon Wilkins, Headland Archaeology Ltd, Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Cork.
Site type: Burnt spread; cist
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 560659m, N 722929m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.255264, -8.589566
Excavation was carried out in advance of construction of the N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road scheme; the site was located on the Loughrea link road. Testing by Tom Janes in 2005 identified the remains of a burnt spread (Excavations 2005, No. 557). Excavation revealed that the thin layer of burnt material was overlying a cist 1.4m by 1m wide and 0.6m deep. An associated ring-ditch was also discovered. A linear feature beneath the burnt material associated with the cist may represent prehistoric agriculture. Another series of linear features truncating the burnt material may be related to later garden activity. A large modern pit was also discovered and a surface of stones that may have been deposited during construction of the cist. The cist was stone-lined and may have been capped by stones that had since collapsed or been disturbed by looting. Burnt bone was discovered within the cist.
The work was made possible as a result of funding and cooperation from Galway County Council and the National Roads Authority.
