2024:592 - Gortgarraun, Meelick, Clare

Archaeological test trenching was conducted on the site of a proposed housing development in Gortgarraun townland, in a field that sits in the south-east corner of Brennan’s Cross on the south-west outskirts of Meelick village. Twenty-three test trenches were excavated, revealing an undated pit and a modern field boundary. The pit, which was against the trench edge, measured 0.9m by at least 0.3m and was 0.15m deep. The fill was grey to black peat with no charcoal apparent. Given the feature’s location in a relatively wet and reedy part of the field and, considering its proximity to a small stream, it might represent part of a fulacht fia associated with prehistoric water heating, or alternatively could be later in date. A pair of linear field ditches flanking a possible bank are close to the position of a boundary shown on the 1839 Ordnance Survey map. Archaeological monitoring of the stripping of the site at construction stage is recommended.