2008:114 - Carrowlagan/Finnor More/Rineroe/ Tromracastle, Clare

Archaeological investigations were conducted for Clare County Council in the area surrounding Quilty and Mullagh during groundworks associated with the Feakle, Scarriff and Quilty Sewerage Scheme from June 2008 to January 2009. The scheme comprised the construction of a new foul sewer as well as six new pump stations, located across a wide area.
Investigations comprised several different methods dependent upon the nature and location of the works, and the results of each of these are summarised below. The majority of the groundworks were along existing roads, which were subject to intermittent monitoring, whilst topsoil-stripping of wayleaves through greenfield areas were continuously monitored. Intermittent monitoring revealed no features of archaeological significance. Continuous monitoring revealed a total of 5 newly identified sites (Sites 1–5 below) in the townlands of Carrowlagan and Finnor More.
Testing was conducted in two areas (Testing Areas 1 and 2) where the works were to pass within the zone of archaeological potential of two monuments in the townlands of Rineroe and Tromracastle.
Excavations were conducted at two of the sites encountered during continuous monitoring in Carrowlagan townland (Sites 4 and 5).
Testing Area 1, White Point Fort (CL038–05001), Tromracastle
Centreline test-trenching was conducted along the 20m-wide wayleave to be used for machine access for pipe-laying works which lay c. 10m east of the enclosure at White Point Fort in Tromracastle townland at NGR 100304 173592. This comprised a total of fourteen test-trenches which were excavated at intervals of 10–20m. Several cultivation furrows, a possible stone-lined drain and a field boundary were encountered. No features or finds of archaeological significance were encountered during the testing.
Testing Area 2, ecclesiastical remains (CL038–007001–2), Rineroe
Test-trenching was conducted at the site of a proposed pump station located within the zone of archaeological potential of ecclesiastical remains, graveyard and holy well in Rineroe townland at NGR 101385 173500. The site lay on the opposite side of the river to the surface expressions identifying the site, within a natural hollow. Testing comprised a total of six test-trenches, which were excavated at intervals of 10m. No features or finds of archaeological significance were encountered during the testing.
Site 1, Carrowlagan, Mullagh (continuous monitoring)
Site 1 comprised three burnt mounds located on the edge of marshy ground at the base of a slope running north from the village of Mullagh at NGR 104982 173050 in Carrowlagan townland. The pipeline was later diverted alongside and between the three burnt mounds which were preserved in situ. The westernmost of these (Burnt Mound 1) appeared to be degraded and measured 8m east–west by 6m. It comprised several patches of stony charcoal-rich material. Smaller patches of the same material were located within a few metres of this. The deposits appeared to continue north beyond the extents of the wayleave.
Located c. 10m to the east a second burnt spread (Burnt Mound 2) was a more contiguous deposit which measured 9m east–west by 6m. This comprised identical material which was tested discretely, revealing a depth of 0.12m of the mound material.
Located c. 9m to the south-east of Burnt Mound 2, a third (Burnt Mound 3) was revealed in the southern edge of the wayleave. The exposed portion of the burnt mound measured 6m east–west with 3m projecting from the baulk, beyond which a slight surface expression suggested much larger extents. A minimum of 0.27m depth of deposit was revealed upon minimised investigation.
Temporary fencing was erected around each of the burnt mounds, which were covered with a geotextile layer before being sealed by c. 0.4m of topsoil.
Site 2, Finnor More, Mullagh (continuous monitoring)
Site 2 was located a short distance north of the village of Mullagh at NGR 104800 173117 in Finnor More townland. It comprised a T-shaped feature(s) that has been identified as a keyhole corn-drying kiln. A north–south-orientated linear flue measured 3.6m in length and extended under the southern baulk. It joined an oval-shaped kiln which measured 3.2m in length by 0.9m. The flue was tested by hand and was found to comprise a steep-sided linear trench lined with large stones. It measured 0.38m in depth and its basal fill comprised charcoal-rich sandy silt along the western edge. A parallel feature was interpreted as a cultivation furrow. The pipeline was diverted slightly and the site was preserved in situ. Temporary fencing was erected around the site which was covered with a geotextile layer before being sealed by c. 0.4m of topsoil.
Site 3, Finnor More, Mullagh (continuous monitoring)
Approximately 100m to the west of Site 2, a small pit was identified at NGR 104675 173120 in Finnor More townland, close to the corner of the modern burial-ground associated with St Mary’s Church. The pit was oval in shape and measured 1.2m in length by 1m. The feature was tested by hand and shown to measure 0.25m in depth. It was filled by mid-brown sandy clay with occasional charcoal and oxidised soil inclusions and stones up to 0.3m in diameter. The function of the pit is unclear. The pipeline was diverted slightly and the site was preserved in situ. Temporary fencing was erected around the site which was covered with a geotextile layer before being sealed by c. 0.4m of topsoil.
Site 4, Carrowlagan, Mullagh (continuous monitoring and excavation)
Site 4 comprised parts of two burnt mounds located on the edge of marshy ground at the base of a slope running north from the village of Mullagh at NGR 105051 173002 in Carrowlagan townland. These lay c. 100m south-east of the previously identified burnt mounds at Site 1.
Burnt Mound 4 was comprised of a large sub-rounded deposit of heat-shattered stone and charcoal-rich soil measuring 15m north–south by 10m (min) and 13m (max.) east–west.
Burnt Mound 5 lay c. 5m north-east of Burnt Mound 4. The exposed portion of the mound measured 6–7m north–south with 5m projecting from the baulk, beyond which surface expression suggested much larger extents. Between the two mounds and slightly to the north, a large subsurface feature appears to be a subcircular trough associated with one or both of the burnt mounds. This measured 2.8m by 2m, and the uppermost fill comprised mid-greyish-brown sandy silt.
The pipeline was diverted to the western edge of the wayleave and the trough, Burnt Mound 5 and part of Burnt Mound 4 were preserved in situ. Temporary fencing was erected around the preserved part of the site which was covered with a geotextile layer before being sealed by c. 0.4m of topsoil.
A 6m-wide corridor was excavated through the western half of, and bisecting, Burnt Mound 4. A second trough was encountered beneath the mound. It comprised a large subrectangular pit measuring 3.8m in length by 1.45m and excavated up to 0.37m in depth into the natural subsoil with remnants of a stone lining. An additional linear feature interpreted as a gully ran off one end of this trough and may have been designed to aid drainage or dredging the trough, as both were filled by the same clayey stony material. A fire-spot or hearth comprising apparently scorched natural subsoil (clay) was identified on the northern side of the trough and a sequence of deposits comprising alternate clean heat-shattered stone and then charcoal-rich stony deposits formed the mound itself (maximum depth 0.6m). A small pit filled with charcoal-rich material was also encountered. Post-excavation work is ongoing.
Site 5, Carrowlagan, Mullagh (continuous monitoring and excavation)
The remains of a small, pre-famine, vernacular cottage, which appears on the first-edition OS map, were found during topsoil-stripping c. 50m south of Site 4. It was located on the north side of the road leading east from Mullagh at NGR 105033 172957.
The site was excavated prior to its further destruction by pipe-laying work. Stone rubble from an apparent levelling lay above burnt deposits which indicated the house was either destroyed by fire or was abandoned and the ruins subsequently subject to a fire. Structural remains were limited to a paved stone floor measuring 5m north–south by 5m and fragments of the walls which were c. 0.7m in thickness. The longest preserved stretch of walling was in the south, which measured 5.2m in length and only the unworked basal or foundation stones survived with little evident bonding material. The eastern and northern walls were not encountered. Post-medieval pottery and glass were mixed with modern detritus. Post-excavation work is ongoing.