2007:159 - Culleen, Clare

An archaeological and architectural assessment of a proposed fill extraction site at Culleen, Co. Clare, was carried out as part of a further information request. The assessment was based on a desk study, a field inspection and a programme of pre-development testing. The proposed temporary development (3 years) consists of the lowering of levels within agricultural land by up to 12m. A number of monuments lie in relatively close proximity to the proposed fill extraction site: CL051–088, a ringfort, CL051–089, an enclosure, CL051–090, a possible enclosure, and CL051–091, a possible enclosure. No traces of any archaeological or architectural features were noted within the boundaries of the proposed development on field inspection, although a ringfort 120m to the north was clearly visible.
Conditions during testing were dull and wet and a large tracked excavator fitted with a 2m-wide toothless bucket was employed to open five trenches. The trenches were located at 25m intervals across the proposed development area; all had an east–west orientaton. Trench 1 was excavated along the southern end of the site and was 87m in length. Trench 2 was 83m in length. Trench 3 was excavated along the centre of the proposed extraction site. It was 71m in length. Two ditches, both running in a north to south direction, were located in the trench. These were interpreted as drainage ditches of no archaeological significance. Another possible ditch feature, also evident in Trench 4, was the remains of a backfilled field drain. Trench 4 was excavated for 83m. Trench 5 was excavated at the northern end of the site and was 47m in length. Nothing of archaeological significance was located in this trench.