2012:080 - FANORE MORE, Clare

This year was the third season of excavation of the shell midden at Fanore More, Co. Clare. This followed excavations in 2009 (Excavations 2009, No. 93, 09E400) and 2011 (Excavations 2011, No. 64). Due to the extensive activity identified during the 2011 excavation, it was deemed necessary to carry out further excavations in 2012 to determine the full extent of the archaeological activity on the site, to obtain further material for dating and to retrieve all archaeological material which was vulnerable to erosion by the sea.

Five trenches were excavated in 2012: Trench 4 Ext. (1.5m east-west by 0.7m); Trench 6 (2.5m east-west by 1.5m); Trench 7 (4.6m north-south by 2.5m); Trench 8 (11m north-south by 6.2m); Trench 9 (3.5m north-south by 2m).

The excavation of Trench 4 Ext. (the remaining baulk at the north end of Trench 4 (2011)) confirmed the continuity towards the east, south and west of the archaeological contexts with heat-shattered stone and lithics previously found in Trench 3 (2011). This material continued into Trench 6 where the vulnerable eroded north-west edge of the archaeological layers was excavated. Trench 7, which overlapped the southern end of Trench 4, allowed the excavation of a rectangular stone structure of limestone uprights beneath the storm beach and within the sand layers. This confirmed that the structure was of later date than the early prehistoric archaeological layers below the sand. Stone cobbles at the base of the structure were suggestive of a floor but no evidence of habitation or other activity was found within the sand. However, some shell in a compacted sand layer beneath one of the upright stones should give an earliest possible date for the structure. The lower layers showed that although the bedrock sloped upwards towards the southern end of the trench, the clay layers with heat-shattered stone, shell and lithics continued southwards within the grykes but not on top of the bedrock. Trench 8, at the eastern side of the site, was the most extensive area to be excavated and included Trench 5, which had been partially excavated in 2011. Trench 8 showed that the concentration of shell layers discovered in 2009 and 2011 in Trenches 1 and 3 only extended eastwards for another 0.3m. However, the clay layers with heat-shattered stone, lithics and occasional shell deposits did extend throughout Trench 8. The natural bedrock gave way to natural gravelly clayey silt and eroded limestone along the eastern side of the trench below the edge of a terrace. A large quantity of heat-shattered stone with lithics of mainly shale and chert were found throughout; also shale axes and roughouts, hammer stones and rubbing stones. Single shells and small clusters of shell were found particularly in the eastern side of the trench. Flecks of charcoal were found throughout. During the excavation of Trench 8, it became apparent that the eroding edge of the site extended further to the north-east than previously anticipated. This edge was excavated and the vulnerable material recovered. The area of Trench 9 between Trench 8/5 and Trench 4/7 was excavated. This revealed the continuity of the archaeological clay layers throughout the trench with similar finds of lithics, shell and charcoal.

The initial results of the excavation show that the shell midden activity is only one element of the early prehistoric habitation on the site. This had been suggested in 2011 but has now been confirmed by the 2012 excavation. The compact and dense deposits of shell found in the 2009 and 2011 excavations (Trenches 1, 3) are surrounded on the east, south and west sides by clay deposits with abundant quantities of heat-shattered stone and lithics. It is not possible to be certain how much material has been eroded from the site on the north side but the survival of the eroded edge towards the north-east suggests that several metres of the archaeological activity have been completely removed by the sea.

The lithics are predominantly shale with numerous flakes, some axes and roughouts and sections of an elongated ground and polished stone point. Numerous chert flakes and blades and a small quantity of flint flakes were also found. Quantities of cores, hammer stones, polishing stones and water-rolled pebbles and cobbles complete the lithic assemblage. A full analysis of this assemblage (c. 500 artefacts), along with micro-wear analysis on some of the axes and other tools, will be an essential element in the interpretation of the site. The recovery of shale axe roughouts and numerous shale flakes is indicative of axe manufacture, an important aspect of the site. A comparison with similar material found by Knowles (Knowles, M.C. 1900; 1901-4) (Knowles, W.J. 1901) and others at various sites along the Co. Clare coastline in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the so-called ‘stone axe factory’ at Doolin, should provide a context for some of this early material (Woodman et al. 2006).

Substantial numbers of shell, charcoal and charred hazelnut samples have been retained for radiocarbon dating from various contexts throughout the site. These will provide secure dates for the various activities, such as food production and consumption, tool manufacture and utilization and also the longevity of these events on the site.

The specialist reports on the lithic assemblage, heat-shattered stone, shell and charcoal along with a spatial analysis of all the finds and the results of the soil sample analyses and radiocarbon dates will enhance our understanding of the prehistoric activity on this early habitation site in Co. Clare.

Funding for the 2012 excavation was provided by the Royal Irish Academy.

References:
Knowles, M.C. 1900. Kitchen Middens – Co. Clare. Journal of the Limerick Field Club. 1, 34-5.
Knowles, M.C. 1901-1904. Kitchen Middens – Co. Clare. Journal of the Limerick Field Club. 2, 35-42.
Knowles, W.J. 1901. The Fourth Report on the Prehistoric Remains from the Sandhills of the Coast of Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 3 (6), 331-89.
Woodman, P. Finlay, N. & Anderson, E. 2006. The archaeology of a collection: The Keiller-Knowles Collection of the National Museum of Ireland. Wordwell Ltd

Ground Stone Point and Miniature Axe from Fanore More (drawings by E. Lynch).