County: Galway Site name: Cloondarone C
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E004064
Author: Liam McKinstry, Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd, Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Co. Cork.
Site type: Kiln and post-medieval activity
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 542704m, N 748583m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.484149, -8.863262
Excavation was carried out at Cloondarone C, 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 June 2010.
Excavation revealed the remains of a kiln and two linear furrows at Cloondarone C. The kiln was located near the western limit of the site. It was truncated by a later furrow. Its surviving portion had an irregular shape (orientated west-north-west/east-south-east) in plan, which measured 2.8m by 1.5m and 0.15m deep, with gradually sloping sides and an irregular-shaped base that was oxidised in places. The kiln contained four fills. The primary fill on its eastern side consisted of loose black silty clay with many charcoal flecks. This underlay a secondary fill consisting of compact grey/black silty clay with occasional charcoal flecks. The primary fill on its western side was composed of loose grey/black silty clay with frequent charcoal flecks which underlay a secondary deposit of loose grey silty clay with occasional charcoal flecks.
Two parallel furrows, orientated east–west, traversed the width of the site. The more southerly furrow truncated the kiln along its central portion. It measured 0.8m wide and 0.34m deep with gradually sloping sides and a flat base. Its primary fill was composed of compact orange/brown sandy clay with occasional small stones which underlay a deposit of moderately compact very dark black silty clay with occasional fire-cracked stones and charcoal flecks. The more northerly furrow measured 1m wide and 0.1m deep and had gradually sloping sides and a flat base. Its primary fill was composed of moderately compact brown/black silty clay with fire-cracked stones which underlay a deposit of moderately compact brown sandy clay.
The content of the fills in the furrows included fire-cracked stone and charcoal flecks, which suggest the existence of a burnt mound or spread on or near the site at some time in the past. No evidence for this was, however, uncovered during the excavation.
