County: Galway Site name: Cloondarone E
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E004066
Author: Liam McKinstry, Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd, Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Co. Cork.
Site type: Burnt spread and post-medieval activity
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 542700m, N 748266m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.481301, -8.863264
Excavation was carried out at Cloondarone E, 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.
The burnt spread was recorded at the south-east limit of the site with a portion of it extending beyond the eastern edge of the CPO and excavation area. Within the excavated area, the spread measured 4m by 0.88m and 0.4m thick and was composed of moderately compact dark-brownish/grey silty clay with moderate charcoal flecks and frequent fine and medium-sized pebbles. The excavation of this spread revealed no underlying features or deposits.
An east–west-running furrow containing moderately compact dark-brown silty sand with some stone inclusions and a field boundary system containing loose brown/black silty clay with burnt-stone inclusions were also recorded on the site. These were interpreted as post-medieval agricultural features.
Two natural depressions were also recorded within the site. These were filled by moderately compact dark-brownish/grey silty clay with a few small stones.
