2018:112 - Ballyglass West, Ardrahan, Galway

Phased archaeological investigations were carried out in November 2017 and January 2018 at the site of a proposed transmission tower at Ballyglass West, near Ardrahan, County Galway. The proposed development is located partially within the ‘zone of archaeological potential’ for five recorded monuments including two ringforts and three souterrains (GA113-013, GA113-013001, GA113-013002, GA113-013003, GA113-013004). These monuments are subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 6/1984) following the development of a shed within GA113-013002 in 1984 resulting in direct impacts on the western half of its interior. Previous excavations in the near vicinity as part of the M18 development had exposed two pits containing burnt bone and charcoal, a furrow, a curvilinear stone spread, A well and a possible field boundary ditch.

Initial testing was undertaken on 6 November 2017 using a backhoe digger with a 1.5m toothless, ditching bucket. In total five trenches were excavated exposing two linear ditches containing occasional animal bone fragments and both oyster shell and periwinkle. Both features were subsequently excavated over a four-day period from 22-25 January 2018 in wet and windy conditions.

Feature I was 9.4m in length by 0.95m wide and orientated north-west/south-east cutting across the northern end of the access track. The fill was a red/brown silt with occasional cobble-sized stones. The cut had a gradual break of slope with concave sides breaking to a rounded base. No finds or organic material were recovered from this ditch.

Feature 2 was located to the south-south-east of the souterrain site GA113-013004 and adjacent to the entrance to an adjoining farmyard. Following a trowel back the feature was apparent as a well-defined, rectilinear ditch with a sharp angled return at its southern limit. The long axis measured 14m by 1m wide. The short axis was 3.2m long and ran into the western section face. The fill was similar to Feature 1 – a reddish brown silt contrasting with the grey white natural clay. To the north of the ditch was a dump of native oyster and periwinkle shell. It is notable that the nearest oyster beds are found 7.43km to the west in Kinvarra Bay. The regularity of the cuts and the sharp angle exposed in Feature 2 may indicate rundale-type agricultural activity of the late 18th and early 19th centuries relating to the organisation of field systems.

Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services Ltd. 3 Gort na Ri, Athenry, Co. Galway