2010:091 - Level Crossing XE74–75, Cloonagowan, Clare

Pre-construction test-trenching at the site of a proposed level crossing upgrade at Cloonagowan, Co. Clare, was conducted on behalf of Roughan & O’Donovan Ltd and Iarnród Éireann. The test-trenches identified one small pit, two larger pits, and two spreads of archaeological material. Excavation of all identified archaeology was carried out in May 2010. The spreads C004 and C005 were dark-grey/brown clay silt with occasional fragments of heat-affected stone, and measured 1.8m x 1m x 0.05m and 1.2m x 0.6m x 0.15m respectively. The three pits C009, C010, and C012 were situated west of the two spreads. C009 was sub-oval and measured 1m x 0.9m x 0.4m. C010 was sub-linear, orientated north–south and measured 1.8m x 0.7m x 0.4m. C012 was sub-linear and measured 4m x 1m x 0.4m. The western side extent of C012 was heavily disturbed by a modern ditch and bank. All three pits contained mid-brown clay-silt with occasional heat-affected stones. It is likely that more archaeology remains in situ to the north and south of the excavation area.