2021:703 - SHANTRAUD (1), Clare

Excavation by Rubicon Archaeology Ltd at Shantraud 1 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 at Shantraud 1 comprised the remains of the following:

Shantraud 1A
The only recorded feature in Shantraud 1A was a curvilinear mill race, visible on the 6” and 25” historical mapping. Because this feature had been backfilled in the 20th century, only two sections were excavated and recorded, rather than being fully excavated. Sections recorded gravel along the base, similar to that often seen in streams, with 20^th-century infill above. The mill race can be traced on historic maps for approximately 2 km—from just west of Ballyteige Bridge, to its destination at Manor Mills, just south of Killaloe town. Manor Mills is indicated on the 25” map (Sheet CE045-07+11; published 1895) as being a corn and woollen mill.

Shantraud 1B
Two intact burnt mounds were in the northern half of the site, with a third mound extending slightly into the excavation area from the north-east.

Late Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age—Western burnt mound activity (Mound B)
The western mound measured 11m north-east/south-west by 12m, with a maximum height of 0.5–0.6m. The mound continued outside the edge of excavation to the south-west. Due to local undulating topography, it was impossible to define the shape of the remaining mound in the grassland outside the scheme boundary. However, it is likely to continue for several meters as the mound in section did not seem to be tapering off, which suggests that the edge of excavation section line is close to the mound centre, with material centred on the central trough. Radiocarbon dates for this activity ranged from 2841–2474 BC (SUERC-106412; 4058±29 BP) to 2336–2144 BC (SUERC-111394; 3804±20 BP).

Trough C1019
The central trough cut through peat to the underlying subsoil. The trough extended from the western edge of excavation, continuing outside the scheme boundary. The portion of the visible trough had a wood lining, with timbers along the sides, but no base or end timbers. Neither of the side timbers were worked, other than their initial splitting. A possible post was located outside the trough to the east. This was a primary roundwood 0.12m in diameter. There were no occupation or use deposits associated with the trough. Following construction, or sometime during use, mound material slumped in from the northern side, lying along the outside edge of the northern timber. After the use of the trough, it filled naturally with peat. Eventually mound material slumped across the feature entirely.

Early to Middle Bronze Age timber-lined trough (C1027)
A second timber-lined trough was located under the eastern edge of the mound, measuring 1.5m long, 1.2m wide and 0.41m deep. This cut was sub-rectangular in plan, cutting through peat to the subsoil below. The trough was lined with a very poorly preserved timber lining, consisting of 3 end timbers and 2 side timbers, all of which were in poor condition and all but one worked. A radiocarbon date from trough C1027 wood returned a timeframe of 1731–1520 BC (SUERC-106411; 3335±29 BP) for this later activity. A concentration of poorly preserved wood elements outside the eastern end of the trough may represent a possible working platform. This was comprised of 15 unworked wood elements. A scatter of wood elements located to the north of the trough possibly represents detritus from its use, with one worked element.

The initial fill material in trough was heat-shattered stone, with a friable black peaty clay between. This material likely represents the final use material of the trough (the heat-shattered stone), with natural peat accumulating after abandonment. The stones extended across the trough base, but were deeper and more concentrated towards the west. Above this was peat fill containing a large quantity of wood, with 46 unworked elements and 13 unworked charred elements. The quantity of this suggests that this layer was backfilled into the trough at the end of its use. Above the backfill was organic peat deposit, which represents natural accumulation of peat after abandonment, with the peat building up between the wood and stone of the earlier layers. The trough lay at the edge of the mound and had been partially covered by mound material after peat accumulation, suggesting a later slumping across the feature.

Middle Bronze Age burnt spreads
Three shallow burnt spreads were in the southern half of the site, with no associated cut features. Dating for this activity ranged from 1518–1422 BC (SUERC-106410; 3209±29 BP) to 1219–1016 BC (SUERC-106409; 2926±29 BP).

Middle to Late Bronze Age—Eastern burnt mound activity (Mound A)
The eastern mound measured 12.5m north-west/south-east by 10m, with a maximum height of 0.7–0.8m. It extended outside the north-east edge of excavation and appeared to continue for another 3m+, judging from the ground topography, giving it total dimensions of 15.5m by 10m around a central trough.

The mound appeared to have accumulated in a single phase, with no identifiable break in occupation. A timber-lined trough was located towards the centre of the mound. It was sub-rectangular in shape and cut through surrounding peat to the clay subsoil below. Dating for this activity ranged from 1518–1422 BC (SUERC-106410; 3209±29 BP) to 1219–1016 BC (SUERC-106409; 2926±29 BP).

The trough was lined with a timber structure comprising of 12 end timbers, 3 side timbers, 18 base timbers and 14 stakes. The initial construction act comprised the laying down of a layer of moss, C048, across the base of the cut, likely to act as filtration for water filling the trough. On excavation this layer contained frequent sand and charcoal, likely filtered down during use of the trough. Above the moss layer were 18 split roundwoods laid flat and laterally across the base, with side and end timbers held in place by corner pegs. It appears additional stakes had been placed in the south-east corner sometime after construction, possibly to prevent collapse. Once the timber lining was constructed an additional layer of moss was laid down at the junction between base and side timbers.

A small shallow depression lay to the south of the trough, filled with a detritus layer. This layer was comprised of a mixed peat with both burnt and unburnt stone, charcoal chunks, and burnt and unburnt wood. This appeared to be discarded from the use of the trough that was subsequently trampled into the underlying peat. At the south-west end of the detritus layer was a more defined deposit of wood. This comprised of a linear arrangement of wood elements with some long, worked brushwood and possible withies lying on top of, and pushed into, peat.

A shallow linear depression ran east-west under Mound A. The base of this was filled with sand/grit with peat overlying. This appeared to represent a possible paleochannel running across the site, adjacent to the trough location, and appeared to have filled naturally prior to accumulation of overlying mound material.

Late Bronze Age burnt mound activity (Mound C)
The edge of a third mound (Mound C) extended from the eastern baulk, to the north-west of Mound A, suggesting that an additional mound lies outside of the scheme boundary. There were no surface traces of this mound visible within the grassland outside the edge of the scheme. The mound material within the excavated area was truncated by a modern drainage feature. There were no underlying features. A radiocarbon date of 1108–921 BC (SUERC-111391; 2843±25 BP) for this deposit indicates that Mound C was in use later than anything else within the scheme boundary.

Additional mounds outside the scheme
Two additional mounds (Mounds D & E) could be clearly seen in the field topography outside the scheme boundary to the north-east. These appeared to be a class U-shape with visible depressions indicating trough locations.