2020:128 - Gortnacrannagh 2, Roscommon

Gortnacrannagh 2 was located in pastureland approximately 2km northwest of Strokestown. It was excavated in advance of the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project in County Roscommon by Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) for Roscommon County Council (RCC) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The site was identified in the EIAR (Roughan & O’Donovan/AECOM 2017) which highlighted two enclosures and a field system visible in geophysical survey (Bonsall & Gimson 2016), subsequently confirmed through advance test excavation (O’Connell 2016).

Excavations revealed burnt spreads with troughs, a ring-ditch, pits, post-holes, two circular enclosures, inhumation cemetery and relict field systems. The on-site Stage (iii) Excavation Services at Gortnacrannagh 2 were undertaken by AMS between 30 September 2019 and 18 February 2020 with additional work in Area 5b conducted between 1 April 2021 and 13 April 2021.

Area 4 contained a circular ring-ditch, c.18m in diameter, 1.16–2.2m wide, 0.17–0.52m deep with a series of four fills. A fragment of pig bone from the basal fill returned a Middle to Late Bronze Age date of 1376–1049 cal. BC (UBA-49431; 2970±41BP), while a fragment of cow bone from its secondary fill returned a Late Bronze Age date of 1218–1016 cal. BC (UBA-49432; 2926±30BP). No cremated human remains were recovered from the ring-ditch but indeterminate calcined bone, bones and teeth from cows, horses and pigs, in addition to long bone fragments from a medium-sized mammal, and large-sized mammal, were recovered from all fills.

There were eight small pits, a hearth and five post-holes clustered in the south-east sector of the ring-ditch within Area 4 over an area c.6.5m north–south by 4.5m, while five pits were identified outside the ring-ditch. Three of the pits were dated to the Late Bronze Age [982–826 cal. BC (UBA-49434; 2757±27BP), 1044–845 cal. BC (UBA- 49435; 2801±28BP) & 967–812 cal. BC (UBA-49436; 2738±29BP)] and one pit was dated to the Iron Age [146 cal. BC–cal. AD 60 (UBA-49437; 2038±25BP)]. No cremated bone was recovered from any of the pits; however, the recovery of burnt animal bone and cereal grains from a number of these pits would suggest their function related to the disposal of food waste, possibly associated with ceremonial activity at the site.

Area 5 contained burnt mound material covering a combined area c.18m by c.15m, with three small unlined troughs, five pits and sixteen stake-holes. The stake-holes did not present a coherent pattern and may evidence a succession of overlying wind breaks. Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age dates of 2435–2142 cal. BC (UBA-49438; 3816±30BP), 2401–2144 cal. BC (UBA-49440; 3816±27BP) and 2195–1979 cal. BC (UBA-49439; 3692±26BP) were obtained on charcoal from the fills of the troughs. Charcoal from the burnt spreads and associated features comprised hazel, ash, alder, oak, elm, blackthorn/cherry, ivy, birch and pomaceous fruitwood and the archaeobotanical assemblage comprised brambles, blackberry, and elder seeds.

Area 8 contained a subcircular early medieval enclosure measuring 15.3m in external diameter, 0.3–0.96m wide and 0.15–0.56m deep. However, its entirety was not excavated as a small section (c.25%) is truncated by or remains preserved under the modern road (N61). This enclosure was cut by and partly incorporated into a larger enclosure, which was also only partially excavated. It continued north of the site out of the CPO and west of the site under the edge of the N61. To the north, its continuation can be traced as a geophysical anomaly and the entire enclosure would appear to have been roughly circular and approximately 50m in diameter. Four relatively synchronous radiocarbon dates of cal. AD 565–645 (D-AMS 018487; 1469±24BP), cal. AD 542–639 (UBA-49442; 1499±25BP), 438 N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project Stage (iv) Final Report: Gortnacrannagh 2 cal. AD 560–645 (UBA-49443; 1472±25BP) and cal. AD 542–640 (UBA-43218; 1498±25BP) were returned from the basal and secondary fills of the enclosure ditches, while a date of cal. AD 604–660 (UBA-49444; 1405±25BP) was returned for one of the upper fills of the smaller enclosure ditch.

Nine to eleven inhumation burials were within the smaller enclosure, and all were extended supine inhumations and aligned broadly east–west, in the manner typical of early Christian burials. However, one inhumation burial was located outside of the enclosure and was in a semi-crouched position. All burials were adults or older adolescents, with three being between the ages of 25–35 and a further two aged 35–45 years old at the time of death. Three of the individuals were definitively or tentatively suggested to be male, five were female and the remaining two individuals could not be sexed. Four of the individuals were dated to the early medieval period: Burial 14 was dated to the fifth–sixth centuries AD [cal. AD 431–591 (UBA-43180; 1547±32BP)], Burials 1 and 8 were dated to the sixth–seventh centuries AD [cal. AD 598–657 (UBA-49445; 1420±26BP) and cal. AD 584–654 (UBA-43178; 1438±26BP)] and Burial 3 was dated to the seventh–eighth centuries AD [cal. AD 619–773 (UBA-43177; 1362±26BP)]. These features are interpreted as a settlement-cemetery. While direct evidence of industrial activity is absent from Gortnacrannagh 2, palaeoenvironmental analysis indicates that cereal cultivation/processing and animal husbandry were undertaken in the vicinity.

The area was overlaid by a later field system characterised by parallel, closely set ditches. An Edward I long cross silver penny (dated to between 1279 and 1302) was found at the base of one of these ditches.

A series of linear field boundaries traversed the site. There appears to be several phases of these that fall into the post-medieval and early modern periods. These contained post-medieval clay pipes, glazed red earthenware pottery and glass fragments. The recovery of a George III silver half-crown and a post-1816 silver halfpenny would further indicate post-1800 activity at the site. Evidence of the post-medieval cultivation of barley, oats and wheat was also exhibited at Gortnacrannagh 2.

Overall, 45 artefacts were recovered including twelve flint and chert lithics, three coins, two buttons, four clay pipe parts, post-medieval pottery and glass and nine iron finds, including horseshoes, nails and wire. On the advice of the relevant specialists the post-medieval pottery and certain metal artefacts will be discarded subject to approval from the National Museum of Ireland. The remaining artefacts will be retained for the national collection.

References
Bonsall, J. & Gimson, H. 2016. Geophysical Survey Report, N5 Ballaghaderreen-Scramoge Road Development. Unpublished report prepared by Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics Ltd on behalf of RCC and TII.

O’Connell, A. 2016. N5 Ballaghaderreen-Scramoge Road Development, Archaeological Consultancy Services Contract, Stage (i) Services Area AH04; Gortnacrannagh, Co. Roscommon, Licence No. 15E0587. Unpublished report by Archer Heritage Planning for RCC and TII.

Roughan and O’Donovan-AECOM. 2017. N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project
Environmental Impact Assessment Report. Roscommon: TII and Roscommon National Road
Design Office. Available at: http://www.roscommoncoco.ie/en/Services/Roads/Publicationsand-
Information/N5-Ballaghaderreen-to-Scramoge-Road-Project/Environmental-Impact-
Assessment-Report/Volume-2B-EIAR-Chapter-11-19/00-EIAR.pdf [Accessed 7 February 2024].

Fahy's Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare, V15 C780