2024:734 - Newford, Athenry, Galway

A programme of archaeological excavation was undertaken at Newford, Athenry, Co. Galway. This followed on from an archaeological assessment report carried out by TOBAR Archaeology in 2023 (Licence No. 23E0606), which also informed the Cultural Heritage Chapter of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) for the site.

Excavations at Newford Athenry were undertaken between February and September of 2024. The northern and western portion of the site was predominantly empty of significant archaeological features, apart from a single prehistoric structure. Other features in these areas comprised possible quarry pits for gravel extraction and agricultural furrows.

The southern portion of the site, particularly at the crest of a geological drumlin and the lower eastern slopes as it overlooks the Clarin river, was rich in archaeological features from the prehistoric period through to the post-medieval period.

Whilst the majority of the prehistoric activity appears to be dated to the Bronze Age there may also be evidence of a Neolithic and Iron Age presence at the site. The Bronze Age however was evident through the presence of four ring-barrows or ring-ditches across the crest of the ridge and the possible identification of circular or sub-circular structures in the few post-hole patterns that could be discerned. Prehistoric pottery and lithics were also recovered from features throughout this area.

A total of 14 inhumations were excavated associated with the ring-barrows on site; however, these burials were almost all extended supine or lying on their back which may suggest a Christian burial practice which was not practiced in the prehistoric period. These burials, although associated with a prehistoric monument, are likely to date to the later Iron Age or early medieval period.

An L-shaped ditch, dating to the post-medieval period based on the glass ware recovered from the basal fill, cut through the main archaeological area, partially destroying one of the ring-barrows. This ditch had clearly defined internal and external spaces with clear signs of more intense agricultural practices within the internal space. Two medieval coins were recovered from the furrows here hinting at a possible earlier date than the post-medieval period for this space. A pathway respected the external side of this ditch and appears to have originally been placed directly on the topsoil and gradually covered over with time. This pathway was mostly intact along its length showing the intensive agricultural practices were mostly contained to the internal ditch space.

Later features across the excavation area account for probable gravel extraction pits that were backfilled with field stone; this was most likely at the time the field walls were removed throughout most of the excavation area. Northwest–southeast aligned plough furrows and northeast–southwest aligned plough furrows account for the other recorded features on site. Several hundred boulder sockets or tree throws were also noted throughout the excavation area.