County: Galway Site name: Athenry
Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA084–001 Licence number: E3995; C309
Author: David J. O’Connor, CRDS Ltd, Unit 4a, Dundrum Business Park, Dublin 14.
Site type: Urban, medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 549998m, N 728490m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.304337, -8.750189
Limited excavation of areas around the base of the South East Tower, part of the Athenry medieval town defences, was undertaken at the request of Galway County Council. The excavation entailed three cuttings around the base of the tower (Cuttings 1–3). Excavation was limited to the overburden and sod layer down to undisturbed archaeological levels. The aim of the excavation was to recover stone that might have collapsed from the tower and town wall and to allow a stable ground level for scaffolding, which was to be erected to allow conservation works to commence on the tower itself.
Cutting 1 was situated to the south-east of the tower, outside the town walls. It measured 7.8m by 5m by 4.25m and revealed that a significant deposit of modern rubbish, probably dating from the 1990s, had been dumped at the base of the tower, and large stones, probably brought in from elsewhere, were used to cover this waste material. Underneath the sod a number of gravel and sandy layers were uncovered, which were not excavated. These layers possibly represent the build-up of waterborne materials in the area where there was a moat. Cartographic evidence shows the moat flooded up to at least the mid-19th century.
Cutting 2 was situated inside the town wall, at the base of the tower. The cutting measured 4.7m by 4.18m and revealed a demolition layer under the sod. This layer was excavated down to a second demolition layer, which was left in situ. The layer appears to date to the 19th century and is highly enriched with mortar fragments and small to medium stones. It is believed that deliberate robbing of cut stones took place, with the stones being cleaned of mortar on-site. An earlier demolition layer was not excavated and remains in situ.
Cutting 3 was situated to the north of the tower, outside the town wall. The cutting measured 1.53m by 1.13m. As with Cutting 1, modern dumped material was sitting directly on the sod layer. Underneath, similar gravel layers were uncovered, which were left in situ.
Metal detection of all spoil was undertaken throughout the excavation.
