County: Clare Site name: Ballaghaline
Sites and Monuments Record No.: None Licence number: 15E0145
Author: Michael Lynch
Site type: Prehistoric industrial site
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 506342m, N 696532m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.011290, -9.395677
The excavation took place on a south-south-west facing storm beach between Doolin pier and the mouth of the Aille River at Tráleathan. The site is located at high tide level along a stretch of limestone coastline consisting of storm beach stones/boulders and sand dunes with a natural clay layer beneath.
The winter storms of 2013/2014 had a dramatic effect on this coastline. Between 10m and 20m of the sand dunes had been completely washed away and, whilst much of the clay layer had also been removed, large patches were still visible along the storm beach at high tide level. It was clear from inspection that the exposed clay layer was rapidly eroding. Assessment showed large amounts of shale flakes and some axe roughouts eroding from certain areas of the clay. This is a volatile storm beach even during normal weather conditions with the stones and boulders being constantly moved about. A monitoring and survey programme for approx. 250m of the storm beach was initiated with the help of the Burrenbeo Trust Conservation Volunteers. This work has been ongoing since May 2014. During this period the unstable nature of the storm beach and the erosion and damage to the clay layer has been recorded. However, areas within the clay were identified with a high density of flakes along with occasional small pieces of charcoal and bone. A licence was granted to excavate three of these areas before the material was lost to the ongoing erosion. The excavation consisted of three trenches (Trench 1-3) and one test trench (TTA) which were located within the monitoring and survey area.
The primary aim of the project was to excavate three areas of the in-situ clay layer and retrieve any remaining artefacts, mainly flakes, axe roughouts and hammer stones, along with any remaining organic material. Surface finds in the monitoring and survey area were to be recorded and collected.
The excavation at Ballaghaline was successful in achieving the aims of the project despite the difficulties on such a volatile storm beach. The selection of the locations of the three trenches was based on the quantity and nature of the surface finds but also the accessibility of the clay layer among the large, ever-mobile boulders of the storm beach. The previous months of survey and monitoring were paramount in the selection process. Without the meticulous recording of the locations of the finds and the areas of eroding clay, it is doubtful that such fruitful locations for excavation could have been selected.
Trench 1 produced a large amount of shale flakes along with four concentrated lithic deposits which were the result of knapping stone axe roughouts. The lithics in Trench 2 were more dispersed although some axe roughouts were found. Some large blades from struck cobbles suggest alternative tool production. Trench 3 was notable for the high proportion of hammer stones found with roughouts and flakes.
The axe roughouts certainly bear resemblance to the axes found by M. Knowles in 1899 and which now reside in the NMI and the Limerick City Museum and led to the designation of the Doolin ‘stone axe factory’. The hammer stones, axe roughouts and numerous flakes, particularly in Trench 1, are certainly representative of this activity. Further analysis of the lithics should reveal what stages of axe production were carried out on the site but also what other tools were being produced.
Numerous samples of charcoal, bone and shell were collected, which will allow radiocarbon dating of the various activities on site.
The excavation has shown that the clay layer beneath the sand dunes on this shoreline contains evidence of the manufacture of shale axes and other tools and that this activity is probably spread over a large area. Without doubt, large amounts of archaeological remains are still in situ beneath the storm beach and are constantly eroding. If this material is to be rescued, continuous monitoring of the area is essential and when intact areas of the clay, along with lithic deposits, are exposed due to the movement of the storm beach boulders, further excavation should ensue.
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to the landowner, Mr. Cyril Nagle, for his permission to access and excavate the site and to the Burrenbeo Trust Conservation Volunteers for their essential contribution to the excavation, monitoring and survey.
References
Cooney, G. 2000. Landscapes of Neolithic Ireland. Routledge. London.
Knowles, M. 1901. Kitchen Middens – Co. Clare. Journal of the Limerick Field Club 2, 35-42.
Michael Lynch. 20/01/16.
Leana, Killinaboy, Co. Clare
