County: Galway Site name: Cloondarone D
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E4065
Author: Liam McKinstry, Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd, Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Co. Cork.
Site type: Burnt spread and burnt mounds
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 542719m, N 748494m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.483351, -8.863020
Excavation was carried out at Cloondarone D, 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.
Cloondarone 10
Excavation revealed an irregular-shaped burnt spread consisting of moderate to firmly compact dark-grey/black clayey silt containing pockets of mid-orange clayey silt and redeposited natural clay, moderate inclusions of small stones, coarse pebbles and flecks of charcoal. It measured 3m by 1.2m and 0.14m thick. No troughs or cut features were associated with this spread.
Cloondarone 11
Excavation revealed a trough and a burnt mound within Cloondarone 11.
An oval trough was located in the centre of the site. It measured 1.87m (east–west) by 1.3m and 0.52m deep with straight to concave sides and a flat base. The trough contained four fills. The primary fill consisted of compact grey/yellow silty sand with charcoal flecks. The secondary fill consisted of moderately compact black/grey/brown sandy clay with frequent heat-shattered stone and charcoal flecks. The tertiary fill was a deposit of moderately compact mid-black/grey silty clay with frequent heat-shattered stone and moderate charcoal flecks and the final fill of the trough was composed of compact black/brown silty clay.
A circular-shaped burnt mound, composed of moderately compact mid-black, grey and orange silty clay, very frequent heat-shattered stone and occasional charcoal flecks, overlay the trough. It measured 7m by 6.7m and 0.2m thick.
Cloondarone 12
Excavation revealed a trough and a burnt mound within Cloondarone 12.
A subrectangular-shaped trough was located near the western limit of the site. It measured 1.7m (north-west/south-east) by 0.45m (north-east/south-west) and 0.22m deep with steep vertical sides and a flat base. The trough contained two fills. The primary fill was composed of firm dark-grey/black clay with decayed stone, charcoal and possible burnt bone or shell fleck inclusions. The final fill consisted of firm mid-grey charcoal-rich clay.
A curvilinear-shaped tree bole was also recorded on the site. The tree bole was overlain by an irregular-shaped burnt spread consisting of moderately compact black/dark-grey peaty silt with frequent fire-cracked stones and occasional charcoal flecks. It measured 5.5m by 5m and 0.1m thick.
