2010:358 - Mahanagh 3, Galway

Excavation was carried out at Mahanagh 3, 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 July 2010.
Seven areas (Areas A–G) were excavated at Mahanagh 3.
Two deposits located approximately 0.2m apart near the centre of Area A comprised charcoal-rich silty clay and silty clay with charcoal and oxidised soil inclusions, respectively.
A firespot displaying evidence of in situ burning was located near the centre of Area B. This comprised a subrectangular pit, 2.3m in length, 1.1m in width and 0.12–0.25m in depth. It contained a total of six fills. The two primary fills both consisted of moderately compacted orangey/red silty clay with occasional charcoal. The secondary fills comprised loosely compacted black silty clay with frequent charcoal inclusions as well as a loosely compacted layer of charcoal. The tertiary fill consisted of moderately compacted orange/red silty clay with occasional charcoal and the last fill contained moderately compacted mid-brown silty clay with occasional small stones. A charcoal-production pit measuring 1.7m (north-east/south-west) by 1.22m by 0.42m in depth was located 2m to its south and contained three fills. The primary fill consisted of loose greyish/orange sandy silt with occasional inclusions of charcoal and small stones. The secondary fill comprised loose grey/black silt with frequent charcoal inclusions and the tertiary fill was a layer of loose, pale grey silty ash containing occasional charcoal. A second pit was located a further 0.4m south and measured 1.04m (north-east/south-west) by 0.63m and 0.17m in depth. This was subcircular in plan and contained loose light-brown and grey sandy silt with moderate amounts of charcoal and small pebbles.
A charcoal-production pit was located in the centre of Area C. This pit measured 1.8m by 1.1m and 0.1m in depth and was oval in plan. The three primary fills consisted of moderately compacted dark-orangey/red sandy clay with small pebbles and stones, as well as mottled clay (10% silt), infrequent charcoal flecks and moderately compacted yellowish/orange clay with occasional small stones. Above these was a layer of black silt, with frequent charcoal inclusions, which underlay a layer of pale yellow clay. The upper fill comprised mid/light-brown silty clay, infrequent inclusions of stone.
A natural depression measuring 1.14m in diameter and 0.04m in depth and displaying oxidisation at the base was located in the centre of Area D. This contained two deposits which consisted of a primary layer of compacted charcoal and an upper layer of silty clay with occasion charcoal flecks. Given the composition of the fills, this depression also appeared to have functioned as a charcoal-production feature.
A subcircular pit of uncertain dimensions due to truncation by a furrow was uncovered near the southern limit of Area E. The cut contained a cremation deposit comprising loose black silty clay with frequent burnt bone and charcoal. A possible charcoal-production pit measuring 2.5m by 1.7m and 0.21m in depth was found 4m to the north-east. This contained two fills comprising a lower layer of compact dark-grey silty clay with frequent charcoal and an upper layer of moderately compacted grey/brown silty clay with occasional charcoal and oxidised clay inclusions. A second charcoal-production pit, measuring 1.83m by 1.46m and 0.27m in depth, was located 15m to the north of the charcoal-production pit described above. This feature contained three fills. The primary fill consisted of moderately compacted orangey/red silty clay with occasional charcoal. The secondary fill comprised loosely compacted black silty clay with frequent inclusions of charcoal and the tertiary fill consisted of moderately compacted dark-brown silty clay with occasional charcoal and small pebbles. A third possible charcoal-production pit, measuring 2.85m by 1.33m and 0.2m in depth, was located 0.8m to the north-west. The cut was subrectangular in plan and had a subcircular post-hole measuring 0.34m in diameter and 0.3m in depth cut into its base which appeared to be a contemporary feature. The post-hole contained moderately compacted dark-grey silty clay with occasional small stones. The possible charcoal-production pit contained two fills which also overlay the post-hole. The lower fill consisted of moderately compacted black silty clay with frequent charcoal and the upper fill comprised moderately compacted mottled silty clay with occasional charcoal and oxidised clay inclusions. A pit measuring 1.4m by 0.56m and 0.25m in depth was located 1.8m to the west of the possible charcoal-production pit. This feature contained one fill consisting of moderately compacted mottled silty clay with occasional charcoal and patches of yellow clay. A second pit, measuring 1m by 0.8m and maximum 0.12m in depth, was located 1.7m to the east and may have functioned in the charcoal-production process. The pit was filled by loose grey silty clay with occasional charcoal.
Area F was found to contain four charcoal-production pits and one charcoal-rich deposit. The first charcoal-production pit, measuring 1.98m by 1.4m and 0.26m in depth, was located near the southern edge of the excavation area. This contained three fills. The primary fill consisted of compact orange/red silty clay and the secondary fill consisted of a compacted black silt and charcoal layer. The tertiary fill comprised compacted mid-grey silty clay with frequent charcoal. A second charcoal-production pit, measuring 1.65m by 1m and 0.24m in depth, was located 11m to the north of the pit described above. This feature contained three fills. The primary fill consisted of moderately compacted orangey/red silty clay with occasional charcoal. The secondary fill comprised a layer of loosely compacted silt and charcoal and the tertiary fill consisted of loosely compacted light-brown silty clay with occasional small stones. The third charcoal-production pit measured 1.09m by 1.04m and 0.26m in depth and was located 2m north-west of the second pit. This feature also contained three fills. The primary fill consisted of moderately compacted orangey/red silty clay with occasional charcoal and the secondary fill comprised a compacted layer of silt and charcoal. The tertiary fill consisted of moderately compacted brown silty clay with occasional charcoal and small stones. The fourth charcoal-production pit measured 1.4m by 1.2m and 0.47m in depth and was located a further 5m north-west. Three fills were contained within this feature. The primary fill consisted of compact orangey/red silty clay and the secondary fill comprised a compacted layer of silt and charcoal. The tertiary fill consisted of loose mid-brown silty clay with occasional charcoal. The charcoal deposit comprised silty clay with frequent charcoal and pockets of oxidised soil and was located 5m north-west of the first charcoal-production pit.
At Area G, one charcoal-production pit was excavated. The cut was subrectangular in plan and measured 2.8m by 1.5m and maximum 0.18m in depth. The feature contained three fills. The primary fill consisted of a layer of loose black, charcoal-rich silt with occasional pebbles. The secondary fill comprised compacted, mottled yellow/brown clayey silt with occasional charcoal and small pebbles and the tertiary fill consisted of firmly compacted dark-grey clayey silt with frequent charcoal and occasional pebble inclusions.