County: Clare Site name: SRANAGALLOON (2)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CL019–017 Licence number: A044; E3714
Author: Joe Nunan, IAC Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 539862m, N 689556m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.953422, -8.894947
Sranagalloon 2 (EIS site 146) lies at 37m OD and is located on the north-east/south-west ridge between two hill crests with views to the east and west. The land is well drained and is used for silage and pasture. The site consisted of a subcircular univallate enclosure measuring 32m north–south by 30m externally and 23m by 22m internally. The bank was best preserved on an arc from south-west to north, was c. 6–3.72m wide and stood 0.73m above the surrounding ground surface. The opposite arc was visible as a low scarp 0.48m above the exterior. A number of large limestone boulders measuring 0.34–0.55m in diameter were incorporated into the bank, along with many smaller stones revetted against the bank. There was no evidence for an external ditch.
The area of excavation comprised half the enclosure situated to the west, an area measuring 32m north–south by 16m externally and 23m by 12m internally. The remainder of the site lay outside the CPO to the east. Within the area of excavation there were three main features. A subcircular well was visible on the north side of the site (half of which was located outside the CPO). Apart from two pits found in the interior and numerous furrows orientated east to west, no other features or occupational deposits were found either in the interior or the exterior of the enclosure.
The bank was based on a natural formation within the landscape. It measured 6–3.72m wide. The bank arced from south to north. It was most visible in the south, turning to a low scarp in the north. The bank consisted of large natural earth-fast limestone boulders and was further built up through field clearance as the result of agricultural activity. Redeposited natural was found on the bank, along with rubble limestone blocks. All were deposited due to land-clearance activity within the interior of the enclosure.
Two similar small shallow pits were identified within the interior of the enclosure. They measured 0.72m by 0.69m by 0.14m and 0.73m by 0.37m by 0.14m. Both pits contained moderate charcoal inclusions.
A large water-retaining pit was located to the north of the site. This feature functioned as a well; it was dug into a rising or trapped water-table. Half of this feature was located within the CPO and it measured 10.4m by 4.6m by 1.4m. The feature was sub-oval in shape with a linear ramp, 2m by 1m, running into the north side of the pit and acting as an access to the water within.
Agricultural furrows were identified within the interior of the enclosure, all orientated east to west. The primary activity on site appears to have been agricultural. No other adjacent monuments or structures were found during excavation. Samples from the site have been submitted for radiocarbon dating.
120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow
