2016:344 - Carrowmanagh, Barnaderg, Galway

Testing was carried out at Carrowmanagh Td., Barnaderg, Co. Galway on behalf of Templederry Energy Ltd c/o WindProspect Ltd in advance of the development of a Solar Photovoltaic Array. A geophysical survey of the site had previously been completed. Testing was undertaken to determine the nature and significance of the geophysical anomalies surveyed during the assessment. A relict settlement was also identified on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map, which is no longer extant in the field. In total eight trenches were excavated within four fields.

The results of the testing revealed that there is surviving archaeology relating to agricultural improvements, potentially from the medieval into the post-medieval period on the site (although dating remains to be confirmed). This archaeology survived in the northern fields (1 and 3).

In Field 1 a large area of burning 6.8m in exposed length (width not fully exposed) and 0.3m in depth was recorded. The burning may relate to activities associated with limestone processing in the field to the immediate south (a limekiln is extant), or to the removed settlement in the north-east corner of the field. A since removed field boundary was also recorded, which appears to be indicated on the First Edition OS six inch map (1838). A number of east-west oriented linear furrow were recorded in Field 1; these varied in width and depth. The features may indicate a sustained system of arable agriculture extending through two time periods, the medieval and post-medieval, as furrows of distinguishably different form and size were encountered. The larger furrows are similar in size and distribution to medieval examples recorded elsewhere, e.g. Moyaliff, Co. Tipperary and Ballysax, Co. Kildare where the space between furrows measured between 7.0-10.0m and 1.5-6.5m apart respectively (O’Sullivan and Downey 2007, 35). These furrows are likely to relate to the wider medieval landscape which includes ‘Barnaderg Castle’, a late medieval tower house (GA 044-018----), and associated monuments including a late medieval enclosure in Barnaderg North (GA 044-097----), an associated field system (GA044-015----) and the later medieval church of Killererin (GA044-029----). The smaller furrows are more consistent with an Irish style of post-medieval ploughing (O’Sullivan and Downey 2007, 33, 35). It is probable that the furrow system extended over much of the field, and adjacent fields. It was recommended that further excavation be undertaken to further assess these features.

References

O’Sullivan, M. and Downey, M. 2007. Fieldscapes – Anglo-Norman Footprints. In Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 21, No. 4. Winter 2007, pp. 32-5.

Number 2, Brendan Street, Birr, County Offaly