County: Galway Site name: GLENBRACK
Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA122–087 Licence number: E003703
Author: John Lehane, for Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Ringfort - rath and Souterrain
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 544673m, N 703781m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.081771, -8.825796
Phase 1 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. This area was identified in the environmental impact statement as one that would require topsoil-stripping to ascertain the existence and extent of archaeological features, deposits or finds associated with the ringfort and souterrain.
A total area of 40m by 25m was topsoil-stripped, by a 14-ton 360° tracked machine using a 1.85m-wide toothless bucket, 50m to the west of the monument. A total of 24 features were identified. Excavation of three possible pits revealed them to be of no archaeological significance. A linear feature believed to be the remains of a field boundary remains undated, as no diagnostic finds were recovered from a section through it. A series of linear features, on average 0.5m deep and 0.5m wide, were interpreted as modern cultivation furrows. They ran perpendicular to and respected the field boundary, suggesting that these features were contemporaneous. No archaeological artefacts were found during the excavation. The site was considered fully resolved and required no further excavation.
Unit 10, Kilkerrin Park, Liosbain Industrial Estate, Galway
