2010:313 - Annagh 1, Galway

Excavation was carried out at Annagh 1, Co. Galway, in advance of the M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP scheme in County Galway, commissioned by Galway County Council and funded by the National Roads Authority. Full excavation was undertaken at the site in June 2010.
The preliminary evaluation of the findings of the excavation confirmed the presence of the three stone-built structures (Structures 1, 2 and 3) covered by two phases of demolition rubble. Structure 3 was separated from Structures 1 and 2 by a north-west/south-east-running field boundary. The nature of the construction of these three structures, along with the artifacts recovered, is suggestive of an 18th/19th-century date for the activity at this site.
The site extended across two areas measuring 36m (north-west/south-east) by 34m and 25m (north-east/south-west) by 15m. The topsoil on the site was an average of 0.3m in depth and comprised mid-brown silty clay. Natural geological strata were characterised by grey silty clay, which overlay the underlying limestone bedrock.
Phase I
The first phase of activity at the site was characterised by the construction of three rectangular-shaped house structures. Structures 1 and 2 were located in the eastern corner while Structure 3 was located in the southern corner of the excavation area. Close to Structures 1 and 2 lay the remains of a north-west/south-east-running field boundary (shown in the first-edition OS map) which physically separated the two areas. The natural subsoil within the areas where the structures were situated was excavated down to the underlying bedrock, most probably in order to secure footing for the foundation walls of the structures.
Structure 1 was rectangular in plan, with the long axis running north-east/south-west. Most of the structure’s outer walls were robbed out. The structure is estimated to measure 15.5m by 7.4m and the surviving walls 0.6m in maximum height. The wall foundations at the south-eastern end were built directly on top of the underlying bedrock, while the north-western side was supported by an artificial limestone terrace consisting of a large stone-built revetment wall. The only sections of the outer wall to survive were at the north-west and south-west. The walls were constructed with large stones which formed the inner and outer faces of the structure. The core consisted of irregular stones and mortar. Two internal walls were recorded, dividing the structure into three rooms. The south-western wall contained a centrally place hearth on either side which utilised flagstones, brick and cobbling. Remains of interior floors were recorded within the three rooms as layers of limestone mortar with occasional flagstones and cobbled areas. A doorway was identified in the south-western end. A rectangular area of compact cobblestones and gravel, as well as a north-east/south-west-running linear drain traversing the cobbled area, were also investigated outside the structure.
Structure 2 was rectangular in shape with the long axis running north-west/south-east. The structure measured 14m by 6.5m and survived to a height of 0.03–0.07m. The foundation walls were built directly on top of the underlying bedrock and were constructed with both outer and inner facing stones containing a core of mortar, cobbles and small stones. The north-east portion of the wall was supported by a large stone-built revetment wall similar in make-up to the revetment wall associated with Structure 1. A single interior wall divided the structure into two rooms. The floor and parts of the interior wall were covered in a limestone mortar and remnants of cobbled floor surfaces were also recorded. Structures 1 and 2 formed an overall ‘L’ shape. Possible evidence of a contemporary connecting wall situated between the two structures was also noted.
Structure 3 was rectangular in plan with the long axis running north-east/south-west. The structure measured approximately 12m by 7.15m and had a surviving height of 0.14–0.37m. The south-western wall was heavily disturbed and identified primarily through a concentration of mortar. Two internal walls divided the structure into three rooms, the south-western of which contained the remains of a centrally placed, square, brick-constructed hearth surrounded by evidence of in situ burning and deposits of charcoal. The interior floor and walls of the three rooms were surfaced with a layer of limestone mortar with occasional flagstones and cobbles. A doorway was identified in the south-western end, located between the hearth and the robbed-out south-eastern wall.
The possible remains of an associated building were located directly north-east of Structure 3. These consisted of a north-east/south-west-running wall which measured 6m by 0.6m and 0.21m in height and contained an associated mortar floor surface.
Phase II
This phase of activity on the site was characterised by the apparent abandonment and possible demolition of the structures. Covering Structures 1 and 2 were two layers of rubble measuring between 0.3m and 4m in thickness. Covering Structure 3 were two rubble layers measuring between 0.2m and 0.45m in thickness. These layers consisted of a mix of building debris, such as faced stone and mortar and fragments of ceramics, glass and metal artifacts of probable 18th/19th-century date.
Phase III
This phase of activity on the site was characterised by the deposition of a final layer of rubble, which consisted mostly of 20th/21st-century field clearance and rubbish dumping which covered the whole site and had a thickness ranging between 0.2m and 0.45m.