County: Galway Site name: Toberbrackan
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E004081
Author: Finn Delaney, Eachtra Archaeological Projects – Galway, 124 Caireal Mór, Headford Road, Galway.
Site type: Enclosure, structure and two early medieval cereal-drying kilns
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 544299m, N 721208m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.238329, -8.834406
The excavation and survey at Toberbrackan confirmed the presence of a D-shaped enclosure and an associated field system along with a smaller attached structure with at least two phases of construction. Two large cereal-drying kilns were revealed within the structure and some ridge-and-furrow cultivation was identified within the D-shaped enclosure. The excavation distinguished a stratigraphic relationship between the two kilns and the rebuilt section of the structure wall; however, it did not establish a direct stratigraphic relationship between the kilns and the original structure, between the structure and D-shaped enclosure or between the D-shaped enclosure and the field boundary walls. Based on construction details and spatial characteristics, a best-fit sequence of activity has been proposed. A number of deposits possibly relating to the use of both kilns were identified. Five early medieval radiocarbon dates were obtained from hulled barley recovered from samples taken during the excavation. Four chert/flint fragments and two rubbing stones were recovered along with numerous fragments of burnt clay. One coin, a corroded nail fragment, one sherd of green glass and animal-bone fragments were also recovered during the excavation.
