County: Clare Site name: Killuran Burial Ground, O'Callaghan's Mills, Killuran
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CL036-024001, CL036-024002, CL036-024003 Licence number: 14E0149
Author: Graham Hull
Site type: Early medieval ecclesiastical enclosure
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 556710m, N 677360m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.845432, -8.642626
Test trenching was carried out in advance of a proposed graveyard extension adjacent to the ruins of the medieval church of Killuran. The church, graveyard and a bullaun stone are Recorded Monuments (CL036-024001, CL036-024002, CL036-024003). The proposed extension is on the north-west side of the existing graveyard. Geophysical survey was carried out in 2009 (09R019) in relation to a previous proposed extension to the south-east and this revealed part of a large double-ditched enclosure that appeared to surround the church. The extension therefore did not go ahead.
Three test trenches were excavated to the north-west of the graveyard and all contained archaeological features. Evidence was found of the double-ditched enclosure seen in geophysics on the opposite side of the church and extrapolation from both investigations suggest that, if circular, the enclosure had an internal diameter of approximately 80m. The ditches, as observed, were 2.1-2.7m wide and over 0.9m deep with steep profiles. Internal features were also recorded, including a number of small pits and ditches or gullies and, although these cannot be directly tied to the ditches, it is likely that some at least relate to the occupation of the enclosure. Hazel charcoal from the lowest observed ditch fill (the ditch was not bottomed) was radiocarbon dated to cal. AD 604-663 (UBA-27499, 1403±25 BP, 2 sigma), clearly placing the use of the enclosure ditch in the 7th century.
A number of features were seen to truncate the infilled enclosure ditches, suggesting ongoing occupation throughout the medieval period. One of these features was a small pit that contained iron slag. The features revealed in the geophysical survey at the south-east and the test trenches at the north-west are typical of an early medieval ecclesiastical enclosure. The location of the original church within the enclosure is not known.
Little is recorded about Killuran, although it is mentioned in 14th century documents. The church was apparently in ruins by the 17th century. A Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age chert scraper was also recovered from the topsoil. Given the significance of the early medieval remains, preservation in situ was deemed to be the best option.
TVAS (Ireland) Ltd, AHISH, BALLINRUAN, CRUSHEEN, CO. CLARE
