County: Clare Site name: Knockyclovaun 2
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E005278
Author: Bruce Sutton for Rubicon Heritage
Site type: Pits, deposits, and agricultural furrows
Period/Dating: Iron Age (800 BC-AD 339)
ITM: E 569250m, N 673048m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.807539, -8.456075
Excavation at Knockyclovaun 2 was undertaken as part of the Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Crossing and R494 Improvements Scheme, Archaeological Consultancy Services Contract (Phase 2). The excavation was carried out on behalf of, and funded by, Clare County Council.
The excavated features were divided into two phases. Phase I comprised the remains of two pits and three deposits and Phase II comprised a series of later agricultural furrows.
Radiocarbon dates from Phase I features and deposits indicated a single phase of activity in the Iron Age between 338-52 cal BC (SUERC-111376; 2119±29 BP) and 175-43 cal BC (SUERC-111381; 2094±24 BP).
Specialist analysis of charcoal from Pit (04) revealed an assemblage comprising mainly of hazel and oak, with holly also used for fuelwood. Charcoal analysis for burnt spread (103) showed a more varied assemblage comprising of oak, hazel, ash, alder, fruit tree-type, poplar, blackthorn, and wild cherry. Ring curvature information indicates a mixed woodfuel procurement strategy involved the felling of oak trees in both features and all elements of these trees used for fuel.
Phase II activity at Knockyclovaun 2 is represented by a series of agricultural furrows. Phase II-type agricultural activity is generally associated with the later medieval to early modern periods, with these furrows truncating the earlier deposits.
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