2013:011 - FANORE MIDDLE, Clare

Following the test excavation carried out on this site in 2012 (see Excavations 2012?) three radiocarbon dates (funded by RIA) were obtained from three shell samples. Allowing a correction of 400 years for the marine carbon reservoir effect, the results ranged from 4,964-4,813 Cal BC (2 sigma), placing activity on the site in the late Mesolithic period. These are the earliest recorded RC dates obtained from any excavated site in Co. Clare. Due to the significance of these dates and the continuing erosion on the site by high tides and storms it was decided to carry out a rescue excavation in Oct/Nov 2013.

The primary aims were to retrieve the scattered surface artefacts from the surrounding area of the midden and to excavate the vulnerable areas of in situ material which were in danger of imminent erosion.

The midden is located on the west side of a low north-south step in the limestone terracing at the high tide level. The coastline is strewn with large limestone boulders torn from the lower terraces by the sea. Remains of the midden are covered by these boulders on the west and south-west sides. Two partially clear areas between the boulders and the step in the terrace had vulnerable remains of the midden where on-going erosion was occurring. It was decided to excavate two trenches in these areas and to complete a detailed survey of a 20 m x 20m area on the terrace to the east of the midden with the aim of collecting any surface finds which had been dispersed from the midden by high seas and storms.

Trench 1 (8m north-south by 5m) was bounded on the southern, western and northern side by the storm beach and on the eastern side by the step in the terrace. A large part of the trench was covered with loose scattered material consisting of storm beach boulders, water-rolled stones, shells and heat-shattered stones. This material included disturbed deposits which had eroded from the midden as a sizeable quantity of lithics, mainly shale and chert, were recovered. Beneath several layers of disturbed material, in situ deposits were found. In all, 32 archaeological contexts were recorded from Trench 1 with large quantities of lithics, shells and charcoal along with some fish bone and charred hazelnut.

Trench 2 (6m east-west by 1m) followed the edge of the eroding midden beneath the large storm beach boulders on the south and west sides. The east side was bounded by the step in the limestone terrace and the north side was bare limestone bedrock where any midden material had been completely eroded by the sea. Trench 2 was located c. 3m to the south-west of Trench 1 and incorporated one of the small sample trenches excavated in 2012 (Test Trench 3). Even since 2012 much of this area had experienced further erosion by the sea. No midden material was found in situ in the east or south-east of the trench. However some archaeological contexts did remain in the south-west of the trench and eight contexts were recorded. Shells, heat-shattered stone, charcoal and some lithics were recovered.

The excavation has shown that periwinkle and limpets were the most common shells chosen on the site. This is similar to the results from midden CL001-019 excavated from 2009 to 2012 (Excavations 2009, 2011, 2012?). However the inclusions of crab claw and fish bone add new details to the consumption on this site. Also much larger and deeper discreet contexts of both periwinkle and limpet survive as well as contexts of mixed shells. Deposits of crushed and possibly burnt shell and limestone add a further dimension to the activity on the site. A large lithic assemblage of over 600 finds has been recovered from the site, mainly shale and chert flakes with some flint, axe roughouts and other stone material.

The detailed survey and collection of surface finds to the east of the midden was productive in yielding c.200 lithics which included shale and chert flakes with some shale axe roughouts. This confirmed the extent of the on-going erosion of archaeological deposits from the midden.

The excavation was very successful in recovering and recording in situ contexts in an area where on-going erosion was occurring. Although large amounts of disturbed material was encountered valuable contextual information has been obtained. Abundant samples of shell, soil and charcoal have been retained for future analysis and dating. Initial examination of the lithic assemblage already indicates differences to that collected at midden CL001-019?, which probably reflects the difference in dates of the two sites.

Future specialist analysis of all the material recovered will enhance our understanding of these early habitation sites on the north Clare coastline.

The excavation was carried out with the help of the Burren Conservation Volunteers (Burrenbeo Trust) and some financial assistance from the National Monuments Service (DoAHG).