County: Clare Site name: Ballaghaline
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CL008A010 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 monitoring of the clay layer beneath the storm beach at the mouth of the Aille River in Ballaghaline near Doolin, which has been ongoing since 2014, continued in 2018. This recording of areas of erosion where concentrations of shale flakes, axe roughouts and hammerstones were identified led to the excavation in 2015 and 2017 of Trenches 1-4 (see 2015:143; 2017:206). The excavations have shown that the knapping of shale axe roughouts as well as other tools was carried out across a large area of what is now a storm beach. This material is similar to that recorded by M. Knowles at the end of the 19th century. Radiocarbon dates obtained in 2016 and 2017 show that this activity occurred in the Later Mesolithic period, at least from approximately 4,800 cal BC to 4,000 cal BC.
During 2018 the clay layer was further exposed by storms and high seas, particularly at the eastern end of the monitoring area. Due to the occurrence of significant amounts of lithics eroding from the clay, excavation continued at the western, northern and eastern sides of Trench 4 and the northern side of Trench 3. Again, large numbers of flakes, axe roughouts and hammerstones were recovered. Some areas of concentrated flakes were retrieved which showed significant variations in flake sizes. Although the majority of flakes are debitage from axe manufacture, there are certainly others that relate to different tool production.
Some good samples of burnt hazelnut and charcoal were recovered which should allow further radiocarbon dates to confirm the longevity of the activity on the site.
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.
Thanks are also due to the RIA for providing three of the radiocarbon dates mentioned above and to the NMS and NMI for the extensions of the licence for the excavation, monitoring and collection of surface finds on the site.
References:
Knowles, M. 1901. Kitchen Middens – Co. Clare. Journal of the Limerick Field Club 2, 35-42.
Lynch, M.2017. The Later Mesolithic on the North-West Coast of Clare. Archaeology Ireland Vol.31. No.4.
Leana, Killinaboy, Co. Clare
