2012:073 - Caherconnell, Clare

Caherconnell cashel is the largest of four dry stone enclosures in the townland of the same name, in the Burren, Co. Clare. The cashel is circular, with a diameter of 42m. It is defined by dry stone walls standing 3m in basal width and 3m in height (though they were probably higher originally). Its entrance, like that of most ringforts, faces east.

Today, the interior of the cashel is, on average, 0.75m above external ground level. A small number of features protrude above the modern grassy surface. These include a collapsed dry stone wall that divides the interior in two, the lower courses of an irregular-shaped stone structure built up against the inner face of the cashel on the west (Structure B), and the lower stone courses of a rectangular structure built inside the cashel wall on the north (Structure A). An international field school has been established to undertake research excavation of the cashel.

2012 Cutting C

The 2012 Caherconnell Archaeological Field School excavations concentrated on an area within the south-east interior of the cashel, immediately south of the 2011 cutting. This work identified several phases of activity, some associated with deliberately laid slab surfaces. Artefacts included the remains of a bone comb, bone needles, iron pins, and rotary querns.

Identifying and dating the various phases of activity at Caherconnell cashel is an ongoing study, with every new radiocarbon date facilitating refinement of the chronological story. The dates obtained so far suggest the following:

PHASE 1: A fire-pit quarried into the bedrock, discovered in 2011, produced a 7^th-century AD date. This probably represents pre-cashel activity, though future work may determine otherwise.

PHASE 2: This phase is marked by the levelling off of the uneven ground surface and the construction of Caherconnell cashel. The walls were largely built directly on bedrock. Radiocarbon dates suggest a 10^th-11^th century date for this phase.

PHASE 3: Early occupation of the cashel, marked by a habitation layer. Radiocarbon dates suggest a 10^th-11^th century date for this phase.

PHASE 4: Middle occupation of the cashel. A slab surface was laid down inside the cashel and occupation material accumulated on top of this. Radiocarbon dates suggest a 10^th-11^th century date for this phase. A stone setting for a post, and a cut, possibly a foundation trench, were uncovered as part of this slab surface in 2012.

PHASE 5: Late occupation of the cashel. Phase 5 saw the laying of a new slab surface, and the build up of occupation material on top of it. Dates suggest 11^th-14^th century AD.

PHASE 6: This phase was the final phase of occupation within the cashel. A new entrance was inserted, and a rectangular house built inside the north wall of the cashel (Structure A). It dates to the 15^th-16^th century, possibly into the start of the 17^th. A length of dry stone wall was excavated in 2012, probably the eastern end of the wall that divides the cashel interior.

PHASE 7: The final phase of activity includes post-occupation use of the cashel as an animal pen, collapse of structures and tumble of stone from parts of the cashel wall. It dates from the 17^th century to early 20^th century.

Caherconnell, bone comb found on site.

Archaeology, School of Geography and Archaeology, NUI, Galway