County: Galway Site name: Renville GAA Club, Rinville West, Galway
Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA095-130-- Licence number: 18E0459
Author: Declan Moore
Site type: Adjacent to ringfort
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 536233m, N 722518m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.249194, -8.955495
The author was commissioned by Oranmore/Maree GAA Club to undertake a programme of archaeological testing of the site of a proposed development at Renville West townland, Renville, Oranmore, Co. Galway. The proposed development comprises the establishment of an extensive sports ground, including sports pitches and associated amenities, on a 24-acre site south-west of the village of Oranmore. The site is in an area of known archaeological interest, with four ringforts occurring in close proximity to the proposed development site. One of the ringforts (GA095-130--), occurs within the proposed development area, with two other ringforts (GA095-129-- and GA095-131--) bordering the site to the east and the west respectively. The fourth ringfort (GA095-132--), is located further to the east. Three of the ringfort have no longer any above-ground remains, with traces of the fourth being still extant.
A geophysical survey was carried out in October 2018 (Earthsound Geophysical Survey, Licence No. 18R0193), and an archaeological excavation licence was applied for by Anne Carey and issued for preliminary pre-development testing at the site (Licence No. 18E0459). The licence was extended and transferred to the author in May 2019.
The testing was carried out by the author and two assistants in May 2019. No archaeology was identified in Fields 1-3 or 5-6. Some of the features of archaeological potential noted in the geophysical survey of Field 4 were identified either as variations in the natural subsoil or as the remains of late post-medieval and modern agricultural activity, possible field boundaries and land drains, and were therefore considered to be of no archaeological significance.
Ten potential archaeological features were encountered in Field 4.
Features 1-3 are located in the eastern part of field 4, are thought to be associated and most likely represent the remains of a relict field boundary or land drainage and are not considered to be of archaeological significance.
Feature 6 is located approximately 15m from the eastern edge of the ringfort (GA095-1230----). It comprises an amorphous spread. Two chert tools were found whilst hand cleaning this feature. Feature 7 is a possible ditch which is aligned towards the ringfort and may be of archaeological significance. Feature 8 was deemed non-archaeological. Features 9 and 10 are associated with each other and also represent a possible ditch feature of archaeological significance. Feature 4 is a linear feature which presents in the geophysical survey as curvilinear in shape. It is of possible archaeological significance. Feature 5 may represent ephemeral remains of a postline and may be associated with the ringfort.
The ringfort (GA095-1230----) will not be directly impacted upon and will be preserved in situ and will be protected by suitable fencing from adjacent construction activities.
3 Gort na Rí, Athenry, Co. Galway
