County: Sligo Site name: Staad, Agharrow
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SL005193 Licence number: 17E0317 (ext.)
Author: Fiona Beglane
Site type: Structure - peatland
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 562889m, N 849325m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.391185, -8.571401
Since 1993 the archaeological complex of Staad at Agharrow, Co. Sligo (SL005-022) has been subject to a number of survey and excavation projects (Beglane 2018; Beglane and O'Sullivan 2020; Bentley and McCormick 1994; McCormick 1993; McCormick and O'Sullivan 2000; 2001). Over time there has been considerable erosion of the sea-cliff on which the site is located, with c. 19m lost since the First Edition OS map was surveyed (Beglane and O'Sullivan 2020). From February 2015 movement of beach cobbles had gradually revealed a layer of preserved peat (SL005-193) and in May 2017, after a prolonged dry spell that caused the peat to dry and shrink, a number of in-situ wooden stakes were identified embedded in the peat (Beglane 2018). A rescue excavation (17E0317) yielded evidence for one phase of Early and two phases of Middle Bronze Age activity.
In April 2021 a number of further pieces of preserved wood were identified eroding from the peat deposit. One of these was recognised as having evidence of working. The aim of this rescue excavation was to recover the worked wood and to survey in the location and extent of visible peat and exposed wood on the beach. One piece of wood with evidence of working was recovered, as was a piece of animal bone. This potentially worked piece of wood has been identified as oak. It is likely that the worked wood is contemporary with one of the phases of Bronze Age activity previously identified at the site (17E0317). Dating of the piece will either confirm this or will identify a further phase of human activity at this important site, and, regardless of the results, will shed further light on human activity at Staad.
References:
Beglane, F 2018, Final report on excavation licence no. 17E0317 at Staad, Agharrow, Co. Sligo. SL005-193 and SL005-022. Unpublished report for National Monuments Service.
Beglane, F & O'Sullivan, J 2020, 'A vanishing medieval church site on Ireland’s Atlantic coast: a longitudinal study of coastal erosion at Staad Abbey, Co. Sligo, 1837–2020', Journal of Irish Archaeology 29: 177-189.
Bentley, B & McCormick, F 1994, Palaeoenvironmental Investigations at Staad Abbey, County Sligo. Unpublished report for Queen's University, Belfast.
McCormick, F. 1993, ‘Staad Abbey, Agharrow’, Excavation No. 93E110. NGR E162700 N349100, Aghamlish Parish, Co. Sligo [Online]. Available: www.excavations.ie/report/1993/Sligo/0001575 [Accessed last accessed 9 August 2016].
McCormick, F & O'Sullivan, J 2000, Staad Abbey, Co. Sligo. Licence No 00E235. Report on Post-excavation Analyses and Preliminary Historical Research Following Survey and Excavations in April and May 2000. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service and National Museum of Ireland.
McCormick, F & O'Sullivan, J 2001, Staad Abbey, Co. Sligo. Licence No. 00E235 (cont.) Summary Report on Excavations in September 2001. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service and National Museum of Ireland.
CERIS, School of Science, ITSligo
