2016:617 - Isert Kelly Castle, Galway

The aim of this excavation is to explore the archaeological evidence for structural remains and occupation deposits in the bawn beside the tower-house of Isert Kelly. Isert Kelly was selected for study because it is a well-preserved tower-house with substantial evidence for other structures around it. The tower-house, which is rectangular in plan and measures c.13m north-south by 10.8m, sits at the south-western corner of a square bawn, now defined by a grassy bank which covers the lower courses of the destroyed bawn wall. The remains of a large, rectangular stone-built structure can be seen in the south-eastern corner of the bawn and evidence for other structures may be seen across the site. This was the third season of excavation at Isert Kelly and it is planned to fully publish the results after several further excavation seasons are completed.

Two trenches were opened during the 2016 excavation, both of which measured 6m x 6m. Since the building (Structure 2) uncovered in Trench 2 in 2015 was not fully understood at the close of that season, the eastern end of that trench was reopened and extended eastwards in 2016, the extension being labelled Trench 2A. To the north of Trench 2/2A, though still within the bawn, a distinct hollow was evident and this became the focus for Trench 3. The excavated strata within Trench 2A consisted of a thin layer of sod and topsoil overlying two superimposed post-medieval layers (C.43/44) which may have acted as levelling deposits to raise and level the ground surface in this area. These overlay C.49, a stone-rich deposit which may have served as a pathway or trackway and which appears to have been bounded to the west by C.25, a linear arrangement of stones at the eastern end of Trench 2 which was first noted in 2015. Originally C.25 was thought to represent the eastern wall of Structure 2, but this was found to be incorrect in 2016 and it was re-interpreted as a kerb or edge to C.49. While C.49 and C.25 together are thought likely to represent a pathway or trackway running north-south to the east of Structure 2, the relationship between C.49/C.25 and Structure 2 remains unclear. Structure 2 may have been a three-walled rectangular structure with an open eastern side facing onto the pathway, or it may originally have been a four-walled structure which was later partly demolished to facilitate the installation of the pathway.

Two substantial superimposed deposits (C.51 and C.53) were uncovered beneath C.49 and these may have acted as foundation deposits for the pathway/trackway feature. Beneath these deposits, four thin patches of mortar-rich material were found. These, though found at similar stratigraphic levels, were irregularly shaped and do not appear to have been part of a structure. They are more likely to represent mortar which was dumped, stored or mixed on the ground surface during a nearby construction project. They overlay the possible remnants of a layer of buried topsoil, and these in turn overlay the natural subsoil.

The excavated strata within Trench 3 consisted of a thin layer of sod and topsoil which overlay C.41, an extensive early modern fill of a secondary cut within the hollow. This secondary cut clearly truncated C.42, a fill of the primary cut. Beneath C.42, the excavation uncovered a series of superimposed post-medieval fill deposits which varied considerably in extent and depth. One large deposit, C.54, contained many large stones, post-medieval artefacts and many fragments of animal bone and shell, and these, together with the significant voiding noted within the deposit, suggest that it represents a post-medieval backfill deposit which accumulated rather quickly.

Beneath C.54 were two smaller superimposed deposits (C.58 & C. 57) and these overlay C.56, another large, deep deposit which extended across the full width of the primary cut. C.56, in turn, overlay C. 65 and C.66, the two lowest deposits excavated in Trench 3. Context 65 was identified as a peaty deposit and as it lay just above the mid-summer water table, it appears likely that it formed in situ in waterlogged conditions. Below it, Context 66 was waterlogged and could not be investigated fully, but the strata in this area appeared to go down c. 1m below the water table (or 3.3m below the surrounding ground level) and so the primary cut has been interpreted as a well which may date to the medieval or post-medieval periods. It may have fallen out of use when the eastern side of the cut collapsed inwards and it was later backfilled with several deposits in the post-medieval and early modern periods. Logistical difficulties prohibited a complete excavation of the well and so the original form and extent of the primary cut of the well pit could not be established with certainty.

Work will continue on the site in 2017.

Birchall, Oughterard, Co Galway