2010:317 - Ardskea Beg 1, Galway

Excavation was carried out at Ardskea Beg 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. The Archaeological Services Contract (2010) was commissioned by Galway County Council and funded by the National Roads Authority. Full excavation was undertaken at the site in May and June 2010.
A sequence of features (troughs, linear channels, pits, post-holes, stake-holes, a firespot, linear features and a burnt mound) was identified, located in the centre of the site in Area A. Initial indications are that these features date to the Bronze Age, with some modern disturbance.
Phase I is represented by the construction of two troughs with an interconnecting channel. One of the troughs had a run-off channel to the north-east. A shallow pit was located immediately south-east of where the run-off channel appeared to feed into a natural depression. A pit was abutting the southern side of one trough and appeared to be a contemporary feature. A hearth located immediately west was surrounded by a myriad of stake-holes forming no discernible pattern. A pit was also located immediately west of the firespot and had a post-hole to its western side. A pit or possible post-hole to the south of the stake-holes was found to contain a lower fill of unburnt limestone mixed with loosely compacted, dark-brown silty clay, presumably collected for future use. A deposit of unburnt limestone was also located to the north of the main trough on top of the natural subsoil. A deposit containing larger fragments of charcoal was located to the south of the trough.
Phase II is characterised by the use of the aforementioned features, which generated the deposit of burnt-mound material. This deposit contained c. 40–60% heat-affected and fire-cracked limestone.
In Phase III, three slightly different deposits overlay the main mound material. These deposits were also similar in composition to mound material but were lighter in colour and appeared to contain less charcoal. These deposits appear to represent the weathering of the mound. Some silt accumulation also occurs at this point stratigraphically at the northern end of the mound. All of this is suggests a period of abandonment of the site.
In Phase IV a pit was found to truncate one of the silt deposits. This pit, along with the weathered mound deposits and silt deposits, were all stratigraphically sealed by a later deposit of burnt-mound material.
Phase V represents the abandonment of the site and the silting over of much of the eastern and southern portions of the mound.
Phase VI, modern activity, is represented by a north-west/south-east-orientated linear feature truncating the south-western portion of the mound. This feature appears to represent land drainage improvements. A deposit of redeposited natural was created through the excavation of this linear feature. This was located immediately to the east of the feature and had been truncated by a deep modern pit. A second pit was also found beyond the northern limit of the mound and contained fills appearing to closely resemble topsoil.
Testing in Area B by Denis Shine (Excavations 2009, No. 396, A049; E4022) revealed one pit with in situ burning located in the western portion of the site and four small pits, or post-holes, in the eastern portion. Excavation of the pit with in situ burning revealed a shallow cut with oxidised clay at its base and one fill consisting of loosely compacted mottled brown/black clayey silt. Three of the four small features located 18m east of the pit were interpreted as archaeological in nature with the fourth appearing to represent an animal burrow. Two of these three were interpreted as pits, while the third was interpreted as a post-hole.