2010:345 - Kilskeagh 1, Galway

Excavation was carried out at Kilskeagh 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 June 2010. Kilskeagh 1 comprised a total of five cuttings or areas (Area A–E).
Area A
This area was the most southerly and the largest in Kilskeagh 1. Two distinct phases of activity were noted in this area.
The first clear phase of activity is represented by the digging of a shallow pit located in the north-west corner of the area. This was irregular in plan, with irregular sides and base that measured 0.88m in length, 0.33m in width and 0.12m in depth. The single fill, composed of yellowish and mid-brown sandy silt with infrequent pebbles, also contained 34 fragments, including several rim sherds, of prehistoric (possible Bronze Age) pottery.
The second phase of activity was located in the centre and towards the eastern limit of the area. In the centre of the site a semicircular or sub-penannular slot-trench that had been identified through the geophysical survey as forming a half circle was revealed. This measured 1.17m at its widest point and 0.34m in depth and contained a single fill composed of grey/brown sandy silt, numerous small to medium-sized stones, 17th–18th-century pottery and a fragment of glass. A shallow pit was revealed inside the area bounded by the slot-trench. This contained oxidised clay on its base and sides and a fill of loose, mid-brown silty clay with occasional stone and charcoal inclusions. The pit appears to represent a fire-spot or hearth.
At the eastern limit of the area another pit was uncovered. This continued beyond the limit of excavation and thus its length was not established. Its measured length was 0.9m and depth was 0.29m and it contained one fill composed of mid-orange/brown silty clay with infrequent sub-angular stones. A highly corroded probable iron nail, or pin, was recovered from the fill and may have been contemporary with the slot-trench.
A number of features could not be placed within either of the established phases of activity in Area A. The first of these were located in the north-west corner of the area and consisted of a linear feature measuring 1.1m in width and 0.3m in depth and was filled by light-grey clayey silt with infrequent mid-sized stone and charcoal inclusions. The feature extended beyond the limit of excavation in the north and was only excavated to a total length of approximately 6m. A probable charcoal-production pit was located approximately 0.4m to the west of the linear feature. This feature was oval in plan with gently sloping sides and a concave base. It measured 0.84m in length, 0.74m in width and 0.08m in depth and was filled by grey/black silt with frequent charcoal inclusions. In addition, three areas of oxidised natural subsoil were located 5m south-west of the slot-trench. These were 0.7–1.2m in diameter and 0.07–0.1m in depth.
Four probable plough scars were identified at the southern end of the area and appear to represent modern activity. These were all uniformly shallow in depth and contained fills that closely resembled topsoil. A subcircular pit with sharp to gradual sloping sides and a flat base containing a charcoal-rich fill truncated one of these. This pit measured 1.1m in length, 0.94m in width and 0.13m in depth.
Area B
Area B was located 40m north of Area A. Two pits were recorded within this area, one towards the southern limit and the other to the north-west. The southernmost pit was subrectangular in plan with vertical sides and a flattened base, measuring 1.4m by 0.75m and 0.62m in depth. It contained eight fills representing three phases of burning, interspaced by natural silting-up episodes. The second pit was located 2m to its north-west. It was circular in plan with steeply sloping sides and a concave base, measuring 0.68m in diameter and 0.26m in depth. This contained a basal fill composed of silt and was situated below the upper fill composed of light-grey/brown clayey silt with infrequent small-sized stone and charcoal inclusions.
Area C
This area was located 8m to the west of Area B and contained one pit. This was circular in plan with steeply sloping sides and an undulating base and measured 1.4–1.5m in diameter and 0.26m in depth. The feature contained two fills comprising moderately compact yellow/brown clayey silt and loosely compact grey/brown clayey silt, respectively. The upper portion of the upper fill had also been oxidised, suggesting this represents a fire-spot .
Area D
Area D was located 12m north of Area C and contained one pit. This subrectangular pit had gently sloping sides and concave base and was located in the approximate centre of the site. It measured 1m in length, 0.7m in width and 0.1m in depth and contained a single fill comprising loosely compact black silt.
Area E
This area was located 12m north-east of Area D and also contained one pit. This was subrectangular in shape with gently sloping sides and undulating base pit that measured 1.2m in length, 0.71m in width and 0.14m in depth. It contained oxidised clay on its base and sides and charcoal-rich black silt fill and appeared to represent a fire-spot .