County: Clare Site name: Ballaghaline, Doolin
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CL008A-010 Licence number: 15E0145
Author: Michael Lynch
Site type: Prehistoric Industrial Site
Period/Dating: Mesolithic (8000 BC-4001 BC)
ITM: E 506342m, N 696532m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.011290, -9.395677
The monitoring of the clay layer beneath the storm beach at the mouth of the Aille River in Ballaghaline near Doolin, which has been ongoing since 2014, continued in 2023. This recording of areas of erosion where concentrations of shale flakes, axe roughouts and hammerstones were identified led to the excavation from 2015 to 2022 of Trenches 1 to 6 (see Excavations.ie 2015:143; 2017:206; 2018:324; 2019:317; 2020:258; 2021:339; 2022:452). The excavations have shown that the knapping of shale axe roughouts as well as other tools was carried out across a large area of what is now a storm beach. This material is similar to that recorded by M. Knowles at the end of the 19th century.
During April 2023 a section of the clay layer was exposed by storms and high seas at the eastern end of the monitoring area. This new area was to the north-east of the previous excavated areas which demonstrates that the erosion of the clay is an ongoing process. As before, the occurrence of archaeological material within the clay led to the excavation of Trench 7. Shale axe roughouts and blanks, hammerstones and many concentrated deposits of flakes were recovered. Whilst most of the shale flakes are from the preparation of axe roughouts, some flakes represented the production of alternative tools, such as blades.
The excavation in April was suspended due to changes in tidal conditions and the re-covering of the clay layer by the storm beach. It was not until November 2023 that the clay layer was re-exposed and excavation of Trench 7 continued for a short period. Artefacts similar to those found in April were recovered.
Samples associated with some of the finds and suitable for RC dating were recovered. When dated, these will add to the Mesolithic chronology already being established on the site.
During 2023 three further radiocarbon dates from previously excavated trenches were obtained (thanks to funding from the RIA). These again confirmed activity on the site during the Later Mesolithic period.
The licenced monitoring and collection of surface finds from the survey area continued during 2023. This confirmed that the erosion of the clay layer beneath the storm beach is continuous and that archaeological material is still being uncovered by the sea. It is proposed to continue with monitoring and the collection of surface finds during 2024 with appropriate excavation when suitable conditions arise.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks are due to the landowner, Mr. Cyril Nagle, for his permission to access and excavate the site and to the Burrenbeo Trust Conservation Volunteers for their essential contribution.
Thanks are also due to the RIA for funding the RC dates and the NMS and NMI for the extensions of the licence for the excavation, monitoring and collection of surface finds on the site.
References:
Knowles, M 1901, Kitchen Middens, Co. Clare. Journal of the Limerick Field Club 2, 35-42.
Lynch, M. 2017. The Later Mesolithic on the North-West Coast of Clare. Archaeology Ireland Vol. 31. No.4.
Leana, Killinaboy, Co. Clare.
