2023:330 - Kilbannon Burial Ground, Pollacorragune, Galway

The rescue excavation of a ditch feature located adjacent to Kilbannon church, graveyard and round tower, in Pollacorragune townland, 3km north-west of Tuam in County Galway, took place in May 2023. It was carried out as part of a proposed extension to the existing burial ground. A geophysical survey (Detection Licence No. 19R0172) of the site of the proposed extension, carried out by Earthsound Geophysics in August 2018, identified a number of anomalies of potential archaeological significance. Pre-development testing of the proposed extension was carried out by the writer in June 2022 with further testing carried out in February 2023. Following submission of the further testing report, the National Monuments Service recommended that the ditch feature be preserved by record, i.e. archaeologically excavated by hand and fully recorded.

The proposed development site is located at the southern end of a featureless field of pasture adjacent to the west side of a modern graveyard and just over 30m from the round tower (GA029-017001) and 40m from the church (GA029-017002). The round tower and church comprise a National Monument (No. 48).

The initial testing consisted of the excavation of seven test trenches, located to best cover the area of the proposed extension, while targeting the anomalies identified by the geophysical survey. The testing revealed topsoil above fill, natural subsoils and a shallow ditch feature (F1). F1 extended north-east/south-west across two of the test trenches and measured 4m long, 0.7-1.1m wide and 0.1m deep.

The further testing consisted of the stripping of topsoil across an area, Cutting H, which measured 20m north-south by 10-11m, in order to expose the full extent of F1. The ditch extended 12.5-13.5m north-east/south-west across Cutting H and measured 1-1.7m wide. No further archaeological features were revealed within the cutting. Two animal bone fragments were found in the topsoil in the vicinity of the feature.

The rescue excavation revealed the upper fill of the ditch, to consist of loose dark brown silt loam which contained a frequent amount of small-medium sized rocks and animal bone fragments. It measured up to 0.25m thick. Below it, the basal fill was grey/brown plastic clay which contained a moderate amount of small-medium sized rocks and animal bone fragments. It measured up to 0.25m thick. Upon excavation, the ditch was found to measure 1.2-1.6m wide and up to 0.45m deep. The base of the ditch was quite flat and was cut into grey loose sand and gravel for the most part, as well as orange/grey plastic clay.

The majority of the 259 fragments of animal bone recovered from the ditch were identified as cattle with smaller amounts of sheep, pig and dog. Analysis by Margaret McCarthy found the bones of domestic animals included elements from all major anatomical areas, though principally from meat-bearing parts. The sample also included waste from butchering and carcass preparation.

We await a C14 date from a sample of animal bone which has been selected to assist in dating the ditch feature (F1).

4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo