County: Clare Site name: Sroohil, Deerpark Middle and Deerpark Upper
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 23E0320
Author: Tony Bartlett
Site type: Charcoal-production pits and charcoal spread
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 512985m, N 688828m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.943189, -9.294641
A programme of pre-planning archaeological test-trenching at a proposed development site in the townlands of Sroohil, Deerpark Middle and Deerpark Upper, on the outskirts of the town of Ennistymon, Co. Clare, was undertaken on 10 May 2023. Twenty-three test trenches, totalling 460.5 linear metres, were excavated at the site to determine if previously unrecorded archaeological remains survived within the footprint of the proposed development site.
The topsoil (C.1) comprised mid greyish-brown sandy silty clay, with moderate small sub-rounded and sub-angular stones. The natural subsoil (C.2) consisted of light to mid brownish-orange silty sandy clay, with frequent small to medium sub-angular and sub-rounded stones, and occasional to moderate large sub-rounded stones, with protrusions of underlying bedrock and gravels.
Two charcoal-production pits (C.4 and C.7) and a charcoal spread (C.5) were identified. All three features were in close proximity to each other, located on a pronounced ridge overlooking a wet and marshy low-lying area of the proposed development site, and had been heavily disturbed by later plough activity. C.4 was sub-oval in plan, measuring 2.3m by 1.16m by 0.09m in depth. It contained a single fill (C.3) comprising moderately compact dark brownish-black charcoal-enriched silt with frequent charcoal flecks and chunks. C.7 was sub-oval in plan, measuring 2.9m by 1.55m by 0.09m in depth. It contained a single fill (C.6) comprising moderately compact dark brownish-black charcoal-enriched silt with frequent charcoal flecks and chunks, and occasional large flat stones on the surface near the centre of the pit. C.5 was sub-oval in plan, measuring 1.24m by 0.75m by 0.08m in depth. It consisted of moderately compact dark brownish-black charcoal-enriched silt, with frequent charcoal flecks and chunks and occasional small sub-angular stones. No artefacts were recovered during the testing.
Archaeological Management Solutions, Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare
