2007:609 - Drumharsna South/Owenbristy, Galway

Phase 1 archaeological investigations and townland boundary surveys commissioned by Galway County Council and the National Roads Authority were undertaken along the 27.2km N18 Oranmore to Gort (Glenbrack to Rathmorrissey) national road scheme. Testing was carried out between September and December 2007. The purpose of the investigation was to identify any possible features associated with the ringfort, and to ascertain their character and extent. This area was identified in the environmental impact statement as one that would require hand testing. Where the results from hand testing were negative or inconclusive, machine-assisted topsoil-stripping and hand investigation of identified possible features was undertaken.
A total of 41m2 were hand excavated at the location where the cashel is indicated on the RMP map, but no evidence of the structure was recovered. A further 860m2 was machine-stripped and six additional test-trenches (51m2) were subsequently hand-investigated. This investigation yielded possible evidence for a collapsed and/or levelled and robbed-out stone structure of up to 40m in diameter. Stone deposits associated with collapse from the cashel wall and possible occupation deposits were visible. One trench inserted through a 15m curving section of wall, part of the western townland boundary between Drumharsna South and Owenbristy, showed the construction of a stone and rubble core encased by a surrounding wall, 1.3m high and 1.9m wide. This section of wall was probably an extant segment of the early medieval cashel wall that had been incorporated into the present-day townland boundary. It is also quite likely that the townland boundaries have been maintained through the reuse of stones robbed from the abandoned cashel. The site is scheduled for full Phase 2 excavation in 2008.