2008:574 - Innplot/Oranbeg, Oranmore, Galway

There were three phases to pre-development investigations conducted at the development site of Oranmore town centre at Innplot/Oranbeg in Oranmore, Co. Galway. A condition of the granting of planning requires that the developer carry out pre-development testing on the site, concentrating in particular on the zone of archaeological potential of GA095–110 (tower-house) and GA095–111 (church and graveyard). The development site was relatively flat, with gentle slopes running down to the water, where it borders the sea. Drystone walling subdivides the development site, indicating the area’s use until recently as pastoral farmland. Bedrock protruded through the soil in many areas and often the soil depth amounted to little more than a thin layer of sod over bedrock. There was some evidence of recent disturbance to the site. In addition the site is flanked to the west and the north-west by the Oranmore Main Drainage Scheme, which was installed in 1999. This work was monitored at the time and no features of archaeological interest were identified along the portions of this scheme which run through the proposed development site.
Phase I consisted of a programme of test-trenching which was carried out in January 2008, using a mechanical excavator with a grading bucket. A total of 23 test-trenches were excavated, which varied in length between 20m and 200m and were 2m in width. During the course of the testing four sites of archaeological potential were identified: an area containing human remains (Area 1), a shell midden (Area 2), a possible hearth feature (Area 3) and a stone spread containing sherds of prehistoric pottery (Area 4). It was recommended that these sites be further investigated prior to construction proceeding.
Phase II consisted of a programme of monitoring of topsoil-stripping of the development area and further investigation of the archaeology identified in Phase I. This phase was conducted in February 2008. During the course of this work further archaeological material was identified, which included an enclosure or possible ring-ditch (Area 4) that was associated with the stone spread identified in Phase I. Further occupation material was also identified in proximity to the hearth (Area 3) found in Phase I. The third and final phase (Phase III) involved the excavation of Areas 3 and 4. This took place over a six-week period from March to April 2008.
Area 1
Area 1 was located on the northern side of GA095–111 (church and graveyard). Investigations revealed disarticulated human remains scattered amongst collapsed stones from the medieval church wall. Three complete skeletons, buried in shallow ground in close proximity to the church wall, were fully excavated. An area measuring 10m by 10m was opened running parallel to the north wall of the ruined church. All topsoil removal was carried out by hand. The eastern half of the site, and the northern side consisted of shallow sod depth resting directly on limestone bedrock. The centre of the site consisted of glacial till under shallow soil cover. The southern length of the site consisted of heaped stone rubble extending out from the north wall of the church from which it originally collapsed. Evidence of human burial was recovered from the topsoil throughout the site in the form of disarticulated human remains. These remains were in a very poor state of preservation and had suffered extensive damage as a result of land use throughout the years. Below the topsoil in the northern portion of the site two extended human remains (Burials 1 and 2) were still in situ, though both were in a poor state of preservation. A smooth metal disc, 22mm in diameter, subcircular in shape and very thin, was recovered in the area of the left hand of Burial 1. While the disc appears to be worn smooth with no apparent markings, it is believed to be a coin. In the south of the site the badly disarticulated remains of a neonatal inhumation (Burial 3) were identified. In the rubble layer further human remains were identified mixed throughout the rubble and extending under this rubble layer. Following consultation with Hugh Carey of the DoEHLG, a buffer zone of 10m was maintained to avoid future construction work in the vicinity of the church and graveyard, which allowed the rubble layer and the inhumations that appear to be contained within and under it, to be preserved in situ. A protective layer of geotextile, sand and soil was placed over the area in order to protect these features from damage through erosion and to ensure their preservation in situ.
Area 2
Another area investigated during this phase was Area 2, the midden site. This area consisted of a spread of midden material comprising periwinkle, oyster, scallop and razor shells. A slot-trench was excavated through the centre of this feature. The trench measured 3.5m north–south and 0.4m wide through the centre of the midden. The stratigraphy of the midden revealed that the deposited shells were located immediately below the sod and rested above the subsoil, which in turn was sitting on glacial till. During the excavation of this slot-trench 19th-century glass was recovered from the subsoil below the midden layer, indicating that the midden material was deposited recently.
Area 3
Area 3 was initially identified during testing as a hearth and floor surface and an additional possible house site. During the course of the excavation four large pits, a linear feature and a large subrectangular pit were also excavated. Area 3 appeared to a habitation site of possible prehistoric date owing to the nature of the features excavated and the finds uncovered, which included a chert flake from the hearth area. Area 3 measured c. 18m north–south and c. 20m wide. The features had an average 0.3m depth of mid-brown humic topsoil covering them and were cut into the surrounding glacial till. The site consisted of several features that were divided into stratigraphically related groups. Group 1 consisted of Features 1–3, which formed the habitation site containing a hearth, floor surface and the subrectangular house. Group 2 consisted of Features 4–7, comprising a linear feature, large pit and soil spread. Group 3 consisted of Features 8–10, a series of conjoined pits located in the south-west of Area 3.
Area 4
Area 4 was located further to the north of Area 3 near the Oranmore River. Area 4 was first identified during testing when a sherd of prehistoric pottery was recovered from a linear feature identified in a test-trench. The area was further investigated during Phase II of archaeological work when the topsoil in the surrounding area was stripped by a mechanical excavator equipped with a grading bucket revealing an enclosure. The following excavation revealed a circular ring-ditch with no entrance, no internal features and an assortment of associated external pits. A series of large pits both subrectangular and circular in shape were recorded on the eastern fringes of the ring-ditch. Some of the pits had clearly been truncated by the enclosing ditch which suggested they were related to earlier activity on the site. Area 4 measured 21m north–south and 25m wide. The enclosing ditch measured 20m in diameter to the outer edges. The defining cut was V-shaped, measuring between 2.1–3.2m wide at the top, 0.3–0.6m wide at the base and c. 1.3m deep. The ditch contained several different fills, some contained charcoal and stone spreads.
The post-excavation analysis of the artefacts and ecofacts is currently underway to determine the nature and age of the sites excavated.