- Killeenmunterlane North, Galway

Between August/September 2013 rescue excavation was undertaken in the area of the oratory at an ecclesiastical enclosure (GA103-137) located in the townland of Killeenmunterlane North in South County Galway. The work was undertaken following an initial assessment and subsequent archaeological recording carried out at the site. The National Monuments Service was contacted in June 2013 regarding field clearance being undertaken in the vicinity of the recorded monument. Following a site visit from National Monuments staff a report detailing the damage and recommendations for further archaeological works was commissioned.

Phase I involved a detailed search of the site by an osteoarchaeologist to estimate any disturbance to human remains buried on the site and a metal detection survey. The osteoarchaeologist identified one adult inhumation, orientated east-west, directly to the north-west of the remains of the oratory. The remains of adult tibia and fibula fragments indicated another probable burial location in rubble in the east of the oratory. Scattered disarticulated human bone was identified at fifteen points across the site allowing for the identification of at least 2 adults, one child and one juvenile.

Completion of Phase 1 allowed for work to progress to Phase II and the manual excavation in the area of the oratory and the monitoring of topsoil introduction throughout the site. The excavation of the oratory took place over a period of six days in September 2013. This involved the manual clearing of rubble and debris from the oratory and surrounding area to enable an accurate recording of the structure and to record and remove human remains that were exposed in the rubble and/or threatened from animal activity. Excavation did not take place below the original ground level of the oratory. A possible wall feature noted curving from the south-east of the oratory was also recorded during this phase of work.The reintroduction of and mechanical spreading of topsoil over all areas previously disturbed was monitored. The archaeologist manually spread topsoil in the oratory and surrounding area.

Excavation in oratory

An area measuring c. 12m x 10m was manually cleared of rubble and recorded. This corresponded to the oratory and the area to the immediate south where traces of a possible curving wall were identified. The oratory is located off centre in the east of the enclosure and prior to excavation only sections of the north and west walls were visible. The north wall extended for a length of 5.1m externally while the west wall extended for a length of 1.5m. All that was visible of the north wall was the lower course and two stones of the second course while only the lower course of the west wall survived. Large building stones strewn to the immediate south of the surviving oratory walls suggested that the mechanical excavator had pulled material from this direction. A single course of, predominantly rounded, stones forming a rough arc running c. 7m from east to west was also recorded.

Work commenced with the manual removal of overburden (C1) and the excavation of rubble and debris (C2) from the interior of the oratory. The removal of disturbed topsoil, vegetation and rubble revealed the outline of a rectangular structure 9.85m in external length and 4.4m in external width. The excavations uncovered a double wall construction 0.7-0.75m in width surviving for two courses in the north-west but elsewhere only the remains of the foundation stones survived. The west half of the structure appeared to utilise large squared boulders while in the east half smaller stones were used in the construction. This is particularly true in the south and east walls of the oratory. The large boulders lying across the original entrance were not removed, however it was possible to ascertain that the entrance is centrally placed in the west wall and measures c. 0.85m in width. The removal of rubble and debris (C2) from the interior revealed the original stone threshold with a doorway socket. Immediately east three irregular shaped paving stones formed a pathway (C4) through the oratory. These stones extended east for a distance of 2.15m and were embedded in and surrounded by a rough mixed stone and clay surface (C3). A fragment of quern stone was recovered from the interface between C2 and C3. Adjoining C2 in the east was a more concentrated surface of irregular shaped angular stones (C5) while a mix of stones and clay (C6) again formed the rough surface in the east of the structure. A fragment of bone with incised decoration was recovered from this layer. A concentrated area of mortar (C7) measuring 1.5m x 1.3m was mixed with the clay and stone (C6) in the east end of the structure. The surface revealed throughout was generally rough and uneven and there appeared a distinct contrast between the three paving stones in the west surrounded by a mix of clay and stones and the irregular stones forming the surface in the central area. An inhumation located in the south-east corner was buried in a shallow grave that had been excavated through mortar fragments (C7) and the clay and stone layer (C6). Further burials located in the east of the oratory were not removed and as a result the original ground level was not reached in this area.

A fragment of a quern stone, one small rounded stone, one disc-shaped stone, a decorated bone fragment, a 19th/20th-century ceramic fragment, a metal piece and clay pipe fragments were recovered during clearance of rubble and debris from the interior of the oratory.  An arc of stones (C10) was identified running south-west from the south-east corner of the oratory. First identified during the initial assessment the area was cleared of rubble and the feature recorded. It predominantly consisted of a single course of small and medium sized angular and rounded stones that ran south-west for 7m. A number of further dispersed stones continued in a north-west direction. No trace of this feature was encountered in the north, west or east of the oratory and its function and date are uncertain. The area to the north of this wall feature was cleared of overburden (C1) and rubble and collapsed building stone (C2), however no excavation was undertaken in this area. A number of fragments of disarticulated bone and a clay pipe fragment were recovered from this area. Following the completion of excavations in the area of the oratory topsoil was introduced throughout the site and spread over all areas previously disturbed. The interior of the oratory was lightly covered with topsoil leaving the paving stones exposed to indicate the original ground level.

Arch Consultancy Ltd, New Line, Athenry, county Galway