2007:661 - RATHWILLADOON (2 and 3), Galway

Two separate areas were opened up at Rathwilladoon, commencing on 1 October 2007. Rathwilladoon 3 measured c. 20m by 20m, and Rathwilladoon 2 measured c. 50m by 50m. Both these sites were located on the south-east-facing slopes of a hill overlooking a sizeable area of wetland, though it should be stated that Rathwilladoon 2 was sitting on a near-level shelf on the hillside.

Rathwilladoon 3 consisted of a single archaeological feature, a shallow curvilinear cut and charcoal-rich fill, which, given the smooth curve of the cut, may have been part of a footing trench for a lightly built circular structure. Despite cleaning the area around this feature carefully, no more of it, or any other features, could be found. The area this feature was found in had been subjected to intensive reclamation work in the past and it seems likely that the feature is part of a larger structure, the rest of which was obliterated by this reclamation. No finds were recovered and, prior to scientific dating, little more can be said about this area.

Rathwilladoon 2 consisted of two main areas of activity in the form of a series of post-holes, pits, a hearth and possible stake-holes. The first of these areas was located centrally in the site and was made up of three small pits and a series of small post- and stake-holes. The latter, while reflecting human activity, did not appear to constitute any obvious recognisable structure. One of the pits [C9] produced significant quantities of pottery fragments and lithic material in the form of chert flakes and two convex scrapers. These are likely to be Neolithic in date.

The second and main area of activity on Rathwilladoon 2 was concentrated in the north-east quadrant of the site, and was made up of post-holes, stake-holes, a probable hearth and several pits. At the west end of this concentration it seems likely that a structure or house is represented, with a probable hearth pit at its centre. A subrectangular pit beside this hearth produced a saddle-quern fragment. The exact shape of this structure is difficult to identify but at this moment a rectangular shape is being suggested. The features that make up this structure produced few artefacts, although a good deal of charcoal and burnt bone was recovered.

At the southern limit of this area of activity, at the edge of the site, a large pit produced a large amount of lithic and pottery material. The lithic assemblage (some 100 pieces) seemed to be dominated by waste pieces or debitage. It is possible that this pit represents the waste-dumping area for the site, or possibly was at the centre of a working area where finished tools were being produced. Thirteen pieces of prehistoric pottery were recovered from this pit, some quite large.

Rathwilladoon 2 was almost certainly a domestic site and, if so, its location was ideal, on a shelf on the sheltered south-east-facing slopes of a gentle hill. Furthermore, it is likely that the sizeable wetland over which it looks may have been a shallow lake at the time the site was occupied. Prior to scientific dating, it is proposed that the site is likely to be Neolithic in date, based on the finds recovered. The excavation was completed on 7 November 2007.

120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow