M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) Forming Part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co

Project Code: NGTS10 Client: Galway County Council Date: May 2012

M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway.

Ministerial Directions Number: A049 Excavation Registration Number: E4082 Townland Name: Kilskeagh Civil Parish: Athenry Barony: Clare Site Type: Post‐medieval enclosure and structures National Grid Reference: 147570, 235518 Chainage: 8000‐8300 Archaeological Consultant: Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd Director: Liam McKinstry Report Author: Liam McKinstry & Sinéad Madigan Report Status: Approved

Project Code: NGTS10 Client: Galway County Council Date: May 2012

CONTENTS Page

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4

1 INTRODUCTION 6

2 SITE BACKGROUND AND LOCATION 7 2.1 Site location 7 2.2 General background 7 2.3 Recent excavations 7

3 OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY 9 3.1 Objectives 9 3.2 Methodology 9

4 THE RESULTS 10 4.1 Phase I 10 4.2 Phase II 12 4.3 Phase III 12 4.4 The finds and samples (Plates 10 & 11) 12

5 DISCUSSION 14 5.1 Phasing and Chronology 14 5.2 The structures 14 5.3 Vernacular architecture 14 5.4 Conclusions 17

6 ARCHIVE QUANTITIES 18

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 18

REFERENCES 19

FIGURES

Figure 1 E4082 / Kilskeagh 2. Site location Figure 2 E4082 / Kilskeagh 2. Site location on extract from First Edition 6” OS (1840) map Figure 3a E4082 / Kilskeagh 2. Site layout Figure 3b E4082 / Kilskeagh 2. Structure 2

PLATES

Plate 1 Pre‐excavation view of site, facing northeast Plate 2 View of Structure 1, facing west Plate 3 View of Structure 2 and platform (018), facing west Plate 4 Alcove area with oven (040), facing southwest Plate 5 Hearth area, Structure 2, facing southwest Plate 6 View of Structure 3, facing east Plate 7 North boundary wall (020), facing north

2 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

Plate 8 Post‐excavation view of site, facing north Plate 9 Aerial view of the site, looking northeast Plate 10 Finds assemblage shot representing post‐medieval pottery found on site Plate 11 Sundial slate, E4082:007:006

APPENDICES

Appendix 1 Context Register Appendix 2 Finds Register Appendix 3 Sample Registers Appendix 4 Drawing Register Appendix 5 Photo Register Appendix 6 Site Matrix Appendix 7 Faunal remains assessment from Kilskeagh 2, Co. Galway (E4082)

3 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report presents the final results of an archaeological excavation at Cloondarone, Co. Galway, undertaken on behalf of Galway County Council. The excavation works were undertaken as part of an Archaeological Services Contract (2010) prior to the commencement of construction of the M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam section of the N17/18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme. The M17 scheme extends from Rathmorrissy townland (at the southern end of the scheme) to Kilmore townland (at the northern end of the scheme) in Co. Galway. The Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, following consultation with the National Museum of Ireland, issued Directions to Galway County Council for archaeological works associated with the road development (A049). The Excavation Registration Number, E4082, was allocated by the Department for archaeological excavations at Kilskeagh 2 under the direction of Liam McKinstry of Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd.

The Archaeological Services Contract (2010) was commissioned by Galway County Council and funded by the National Roads Authority; the contract was managed by Hyder Tobin Engineers on behalf of Galway County Council.

Stage (i) Test Excavation and Survey Services along the scheme were undertaken by CRDS Ltd between August and January 2010 (Bartlett 2009; Shine et al. 2009a‐d). These test excavations identified a total of 27 archaeological sites which required full archaeological excavation under Stage (iii) of the service requirements. Stage (ii) Pre‐Excavation Services were also undertaken by CRDS Ltd.

At that time a number of areas within the scheme were not subject to Stage (i) test excavation. Testing in these areas, comprising 17 specified locations omitted from the previous Contract (2009), were carried out by Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd on behalf of Galway County Council between 11 and 21 May 2010 under Excavation Registration Number E4022. No additional archaeological sites were identified.

The test excavations at Kilskeagh 2 identified two stone structures and part of a square stone‐walled enclosure as depicted on the 1st edition OS maps (1838‐9) (Bartlett 2009/ Shine et al. 2009a/ Shine et al. 2009b/ Shine et al. 2009c/ Shine et al. 2009d). The site appears to have been abandoned sometime after 1839 and is not depicted on the 25”OS mapping published in 1894. The buildings may have been associated with what is locally known as ‘Old Kilskeagh’ a village which was deserted in the 19th century.

Full archaeological excavation was undertaken at the site between June and July 2010; a preliminary report on the results of the excavation was submitted in August 2010.

Kilskeagh 2 was situated towards the middle of a relatively flat field which sloped slightly from east to west. The field itself formed part of plateau on the eastern side of Kilskeagh Hill. The area of excavation measured 32 m (northwest/southeast) by 31 m. The site was characterised by the presence of a small post‐medieval settlement with evidence for three main phases of activity.

The excavation The first phase of activity at the site was characterised by the construction of three rectangular structures (Structures 1‐3). Two of these were situated within a sub‐square area defined by an enclosing wall, which measured 15 m by 20 m. The third abutted the enclosure externally to the immediate northeast (Figure 3a). The subsoil within this area seemed to have been deliberately reduced to expose the underlying bedrock, most probably as a secure footing for the foundation walls for the three structures (though Structure 2 was constructed on an artificial platform). All three

4 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082). structures were rectangular in plan; the remaining outer walls were constructed with both outer and inner facing stones and had a core made up of mortar, cobbles and small irregular shaped stones. Internal dividing walls were comprised of flat‐faced limestone blocks with a rubble core and mortar bonding material. Structure 2 appeared to be the main dwelling house and measured 11.3 m by 5.8 m, with surviving walls to a maximum height of 0.66 m. Structure 1 measured 11.3 m by 5.1 m, while Structure 3 was estimated to measure 11.75 m by 4.3 m; both appear to be out‐buildings rather than dwellings. A hearth and oven were present in Structure 2 and the interior floor and walls were surfaced with a layer of limestone mortar with occasional flag stones present. There was evidence for a rough, loose cobbling in Structure 3. Kilskeagh 2 was located between Kilskeagh 4 (E4086) and Kilskeagh 5 (E4088) with Kilskeagh 4 situated 300 m to the north and Kilskeagh 5 approximately 320 m to the south

The structures were sealed by a series of rubble layers. These layers consisted of a mix of building debris, such as faced stone and mortar, from which a number of artefacts, such as ceramics, glass and metal were recovered. The lower deposits related to the initial demolition of the structure, while the later deposits in the sequence related mostly to 20th – 21st century field clearance and rubbish dumping.

Artefact assemblage A total of 16 finds, comprising seven sherds of post‐medieval pottery (including pearlware, creamware and black glazed red earthenware), two metal objects (an iron nail and a padlock), three glass sherds and a slate sundial fragment were recovered during excavation of the three structures.

Dating No radiocarbon dates were obtained from this site. Although the artefact assemblage was recovered mainly from topsoil and demolition/abandonment layers, its typology places the structures firmly in the late 18th to early 20th century. This can be refined with reference to historic mapping. The settlement appears on the 1st edition of the Ordnance Survey 6” series (1838‐9), but is no longer represented by the time of compilation of the 25” edition (1894) providing a terminus ante quem for both its construction and abandonment/demolition.

Results of Specialist Analysis Faunal remains: The animal bone assemblage, retrieved from layers associated with Structure 2, principally consisted of elements from the head, meaty bones, feet and axial carcass of neonatal/infant specimens of pig and sheep/goat. This evidence suggests that meat was the main product obtained from this species. Furthermore, the skeletal representation is indicative of slaughter waste and primary and secondary butchery waste, suggesting that processing (killing, preparation, consumption and disposal) was carried out in the same area.

5 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

1 INTRODUCTION

The N17/18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme is approximately 57 km in length and will connect the N18 Gort to Cusheen Scheme to the existing N17 road immediately north of Tuam. This overall scheme forms part of the Atlantic Corridor designed to connect Letterkenny, County Donegal to Waterford city with a high quality dual carriageway/ motorway link, which will run via Sligo, Galway and Cork. Development of the Atlantic Corridor is an objective of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007 – 2013. It is also an objective of the Transport 21 framework.

The proposed M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam section of the N17/18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme is approximately 26 km long and will connect the existing M6, from Dublin to Galway, at Rathmorrissy with the N17 south of Tuam (Figure 1). An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was carried out on the entire length of the proposed road (Galway County Council 2007). The scheme was approved by An Bord Pleanála (Ref. PL07 .HA0005) in March 2009.

The road construction project is being funded as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. The total archaeological cost is administered by the National Roads Authority through Galway County Council. The current programme of works has been undertaken by Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd following the award of an Archaeological Consultancy Services Contract (2010) by Galway County Council.

A geophysical survey was undertaken within the road corridor by Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics (Bonsall and Gimson 2006). This survey informed the findings of the subsequent EIS (Galway County Council 2007). The EIS included a chapter on Archaeological and Cultural Heritage which was compiled by Sheila Lane & Associates (2007).

Test excavations under Stage (i) of the Archaeological Services Contract (2009) were undertaken by CRDS Ltd between August and January 2010 (Bartlett 2009; Shine et al. 2009a‐d). These resulted in the identification of 27 archaeological sites within the CPO area. Of these, a high proportion were categorised as burnt mounds or burnt spreads with the remainder taking the form of early modern vernacular building remains, a corn‐drying kiln, (likely) prehistoric enclosures and approximately 60% of an upstanding ringfort. Stage (ii) Pre‐Excavation Services on the scheme involved the removal and management of topsoil to fully expose the archaeological features and deposits, hand cleaning of exposed surfaces and mapping of features identified at these sites. This was carried out by CRDS Ltd between December 2009 and March 2010.

Further test excavation under Stage (i) of the Archaeological Services Contract (2010) were undertaken by Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd between 11 and 21 May 2010 (Bolger et al. 2010), however no additional archaeological sites were identified.

Archaeological excavations were undertaken at each of the 27 identified archaeological sites by Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd between May 2010 and July 2010 under Stage (iii) of the Archaeological Services Contract (2010).

6 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

2 SITE BACKGROUND AND LOCATION

2.1 Site location

Kilskeagh 2 was situated in the townland of Kilskeagh, parish of Athenry, barony of Clare and was located 7 km northeast of Athenry at National Grid Reference: 147,570, 235,518 (Figure 1, Plate 9). Kilskeagh 2 was situated in the middle of a relatively flat field which sloped slightly from east to west. The field itself formed part of plateau on the eastern side of Kilskeagh Hill. The site was also located to the immediate east of a partially disused post‐medieval cobbled road.

The solid geology of the area comprises sedimentary rocks. Burren limestone is the most extensively outcropping rock type in the area. It is generally a light to medium grey, bedded, fossiliferous, coarse to medium grained limestone. These rocks, which make up much of the midlands of Ireland, represent the northward return of the sea at the end of the Devonian, 360 million years ago, owing to the opening of a new ocean to the south called the Palaeo‐Tethys, in what is now central Europe. This area is part of a physical region of Ireland known as the Central Bogland and Moraine area (Aalen et al. 1997, fig 12). This area, west of the Shannon, is characterised by a thin blanket of glacial deposits and peat bogs. The soils of the area consist of a mixture of grey/brown podzolics and shallow brown earths.

2.2 General background

The known archaeological sites in the vicinity of site prior to the current road development were a hilltop enclosure (GA071‐044) 450 m to the east, two possible enclosures (GA071‐087 and GA071‐088) within 500m to the northeast, a house (GA071‐046001) and an enclosure (GA071‐045) 600 m to the east and a grouping including a church (GA071‐076001), a building (GA071‐076002), a graveyard (GA071‐ 076003) and a market cross (GA071‐076004) 650 m to the west. All of these recorded sites lay outside the CPO and are unaffected by the scheme.

2.3 Recent excavations

Archaeological investigations undertaken as part of Stage (i) of the Archaeological Services Contract in advance of the M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam section of the N17/18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme identified a number of sites in the vicinity of Kilskeagh 2.

Kilskeagh 2 together with sites at Kilskeagh 4 (E4086) – located approximately 50 m to the northeast (McKinstry 2010d) – and Kilskeagh 5 (E4088) – located approximately 50 m to the southeast (McKinstry 2010e) – comprise a small cluster of post‐medieval rural dwellings, which are depicted on the 1st Edition 6” Ordnance Survey map (1838‐39); Kilskeagh 6 (E4091), located 0.7 km to the south, was the site of two cobbled trackways, a metalled surface with a small portion of possible trackway and a collapsed structure or building of post‐medieval date (O’Neill 2010c); Kilskeagh 1 (E4080) was the location of Bronze Age, early to late medieval and post‐medieval activity and was situated approximately 1 km to the SSW (O’Neill 2010a); Kilskeagh 3 (E4084), which was also situated approximately 1 km to the SSW of Kilskeagh 4, provided evidence of activity in the Neolithic, Early Bronze Age, early medieval and late medieval periods (O’Neill 2010b).

Located 4–4.5 km to the northwest of Kilskeagh 4 were: Annagh 1 (E4085), which was the location of three post‐medieval structures (McKinstry and Madigan 2011); Annagh Hill 1 (E4092), which contained a stone‐lined kiln and associated features (McKinstry 2010a); Annagh Hill 2 (E4093), which

7 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082). was the siting of a Middle Bronze Age burnt stone spread with associated pit (McKinstry 2010b); and Annagh Hill 3 (E4094), which contained floor surfaces/walls, a pit and a kiln (McKinstry 2010c).

These sites were fully excavated during Stage (iii) of the current Contract (2010) and are the subjects of separate excavation reports.

8 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

3 OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY

3.1 Objectives

The objective of the work was the preservation‐by‐record through appropriate rescue excavation of any significant archaeological features or deposits, which have been identified within the land take of the proposed development, in advance of the road construction programme, so as to mitigate the impact of the road development on this archaeological material.

3.2 Methodology

Full archaeological excavation was undertaken at Kilskeagh 2 between June and July 2010. The crew for the excavation consisted of 1 director, 1 supervisor and 8 site assistants.

Topsoil stripping of the site was conducted using a 360° tracked machine fitted with a 2 m wide ditching (toothless) bucket under constant archaeological supervision. A total area of 984.7298 m² was exposed. The resulting surface was cleaned and all potential features investigated by hand. Archaeological contexts were recorded by photograph and on pro forma record sheets. Plans and sections were drawn at scales of 1:50, 1:20 and 1:10 respectively. Registers are provided in the appendices (Appendices 1‐5). Ordnance Datum levels and feature locations were recorded using Penmap and a total station theodolite.

Environmental samples were taken from any deposits suitable for analysis or dating as per Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd environmental guidelines and following consultation with environmental archaeologist and archaeobotanist Dr. Scott Timpany and zooarchaeologist Claudia Tommasino Suárez. Artefacts recovered during the excavation were assigned unique numbers and treated in accordance with National Museum of Ireland guidelines.

As part of stage (iv) post‐excavation works, artefacts and animal bone samples have been examined by the appropriate specialists and the results are incorporated into this report (see Appendices).

Due to the post‐medieval date of the site at Kilskeagh 2 and the fact that the soil samples were recovered from demolition layers rather than secure contexts it was deemed unnecessary for an assessment to be carried out by Archaeobotanist Dr. Scott Timpany.

9 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

4 THE RESULTS

The archaeological features identified at the site extended across an area measuring 32 m (northwest/southeast) by 31 m (northeast/southwest).

A total of three main phases of activity have been identified from the results of the excavation. All areas of the site produced evidence for activity associated with every phase.

The topsoil at the site (001) was an average of 0.2 m in depth and comprised a mid‐brown silty sand. The upper natural geological stratum (002), which was located around the main enclosure, was characterised by a mid‐orange brown silty sand which had an average depth of 0.6m The lower natural geological stratum (003), located within the interior of the stone‐built enclosing wall, was characterised by a mid‐grey brown silty sand with frequent gravel and small stones and had an average depth of 0.09 m. This layer directly overlay the underlying limestone bedrock (004).

4.1 Phase I

The first phase of activity at the site was characterised by the construction of three rectangular‐shaped structures (Structures 1‐3). Two of these (Structures 2 and 3) were situated within a sub‐square area defined by an enclosing wall, which measured 15 m by 20 m. The third (Structure 1) abutted the enclosure externally to the immediate northeast (Figure 3a). The subsoil within this area seemed to have been deliberately reduced to expose the underlying bedrock, most probably as a secure footing for the foundation walls for the three structures (though Structure 2 was constructed on an artificial platform).

The enclosure The enclosing wall (020) formed a sub‐square shape in plan. Structure 1 projected outside to the northeast, while the other two structures were located within the enclosure. The overall size of the enclosure was approximately 15 m by 20 m and the maximum surviving height of the wall was approximately 0.5 m, with an approximate width of 0.5 m. The wall was of dry‐stone construction, though with much of it in a poor state of repair, completely robbed out or demolished. There would most likely have been two distinct areas within the enclosure on both the northwestern and southeastern sides of Structure 2. It seems likely that the northwestern side of the enclosure was the main yard area, defined by Structures 1 and 2, as both had doorways leading into this area. Two openings in the northwest and northeast walls of the enclosure may represent entrances into the yard; these measured approximately 2.04 m and 1.93 m wide respectively.

Structure 1 Structure 1 was rectangular in shape with the long‐axis running in a northwest/southeast direction (Figure 3a). The structure measured 11.3 m by 5.1 m and survived to a maximum height of 0.48 m. The foundation walls were built directly over the underlying bedrock and remnants of the natural subsoil. The outer walls (012) were between 0.6 m and 0.75 m thick and built with both outer and inner facing stones (4‐5 courses high); they had a core made up of mortar, cobbles and small irregularly‐shaped stones. A doorway into Structure 1, which measured 0.80 m in width, was identified towards the centre of the southwestern wall. The threshold of this doorway comprised some patches of mortar but also utilised the underlying bedrock and placed slabs as steps down into the enclosures interior. Internally, the structure contained a dividing wall (013), which was constructed in a similar way to the outer walls and measured approximately 0.7 m in thickness. The two rooms created by this dividing wall measured approximately 6.5 m by 4.05 m at the northwest and approximately 2.95 m by 3.85 m at the southeast. The interior floor surfaces of both rooms

10 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082). consisted of layers of limestone mortar (021‐022) which covered the underlying natural subsoil and bedrock. The southwest wall of the structure formed part of the northwest wall of the sub‐square enclosure.

Structure 2 Structure 2 (Figure 3b) consisted of the partial remains of a rectangular, stone‐built structure which had been built upon an artificial platform. The platform consisted of an outer dry‐stone retaining wall (019), which contained a thick, levelled layer of limestone rubble with some re‐deposited subsoil (008). It was rectangular in shape, with its southwestern elevation forming part of the enclosure. The platform measured 11.8 m (northeast/southwest) by 6.3 m and was approximately 0.3 m thick. The platform was surfaced with cobbles (009). This was most likely in an attempt to prevent erosion of the platform and the structure built upon it.

Structure 2 had the same orientation to the platform. Small sections of the outer wall, two internal walls and the floor surfaces survived, with the remainder of the building having been robbed out. The estimated overall size of the structure was 11.3 m (northeast/southwest) by 5.8 m and the maximum height of the remaining walls was 0.66 m. The only remaining outer wall section (027) was located on the southeastern side of the structure. It measured 7 m long, 0.75 m wide and had a maximum height of 0.2 m. Two doorways provided access to the interior of the structure. These were located opposite each other in the southeast and northwest facing walls; they measured 0.95 m and 0.90 m respectively. The location of the opes was identified by the presence of flagstones (025 and 026) and traces of limestone wall and floor.

Internally, the structure was divided into three rooms by two dividing walls. The southwestern internal wall (014) measured 3 m long, 0.3‐0.8 m thick and had a maximum height of 0.66 m. The northeastern internal wall (028) was 3.7 m long, 0.3 m thick and had a height of 0.3‐0.68 m. The central room created by the internal walls measured 4.15 m (northeast/southwest) by 3.75 m, while the southwestern room measured approximately 3.68 m (northwest/southeast) by 2.5 m and the northeastern room measured approximately 3.7 m (northwest/southeast) by 1.9 m. Two doorways were located opposite each other at the interior of the structure, close to the southeastern outer wall. These led into the rooms at the northeast and southwest ends of the building and had maximum widths of 0.60 m and 0.50 m respectively. All of the room floors were surfaced with limestone mortar and occasional in situ flagstones (017, 018, 031, 032 and 036) suggest that the floors were once fully paved.

There was a large recess within the southwestern internal wall, which indicated the presence of a hearth (038) and chimney within the central room. The recess was approximately 1.6 m long and 0.36 m wide. An extra section of wall (037), as well as a small oven (039‐041), built using a corbelled stone and clay construction technique, were noted within the central part of the recess (Plates 4 and 5). The oven (039‐041) had a diameter of 0.3 m and a height of 0.3 m and contained a layer of carbonised seeds. Immediately in front of the recess was an arrangement of flagstones and an area of intense in situ burning suggesting the presence of an open fire. Extending towards the centre of the room from the northeastern internal wall were two small parallel wall sections (029 and 030). These measured 0.23 m wide and 0.29‐0.42 m thick and projected out approximately 0.58‐0.6 m into the interior of the central room (Figure 3b). It is possible that these walls were part of some internal storage compartment within the central room, possibly for food or fuel.

Structure 3 Structure 3 consisted of the partial remains of a rectangular stone built structure (042). This structure was recorded as a single context due to the limited extents surviving, as well as the fact that all wall components appeared to be contemporary and were of similar form, i.e. comprising sub‐rectangular

11 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082). cut limestone blocks with some evidence of sand bonding (Figure 3a). The estimated size of the structure was 11.75 m (northwest/southeast) by 4.3 m and it survived to a height of 0.2‐0.45 m. The structure was most probably joined to Structure 1 via a section of the enclosing wall (020). The northeastern wall measured 11.75 m by 0.84 m, the southeastern wall measured 4.3 m by 0.81 m, the partial remains of the southwestern wall measured 1.8 m by 0.85 m and the northwestern wall had been either robbed out or demolished. No internal walls were noted and the only floor surface located was rough loose cobbling (043), which may have been remnants of a rubble layer rather than a floor surface.

4.2 Phase II

Phase II is characterised by a number of deposits (006, 007, 011 and 044) covering each of the structures and areas of the enclosure. These deposits consisted of a mix of building debris, such as faced stone and mortar from the demolition of the structures themselves, along with a number of artefacts from the occupation of the structures, such as such as late 17th century to 19th century ceramics and glass 18th to 20th century glass shards (Appendix 2). The deposits covering structures 1, 2 and 3 (006, 007 and 044) measured between 0.2 m and 1.13 m in depth, while areas of the enclosure were covered by deposit (011) to a depth of between 0.18 m and 0.48 m

4.3 Phase III

Phase III was characterised by the deposition of a final layer of rubble (005). While no artefacts were recovered from this deposit it did contain modern farm refuse, such as plastic sheeting, twine and piping, suggesting a modern date for this phase of activity. This layer was between 0.3 and 0.6 m in thickness and covered the whole site.

4.4 The finds and samples (Plates 10 & 11)

A total of 16 finds and 10 samples were retrieved during the investigations at Kilskeagh 2.

Ceramic assemblage The ceramic assemblage comprises seven sherds of pottery, which were identified by finds specialist Julie Franklin as being post‐medieval in date. The assemblage comprised: one sherd of pearlware (c.1775‐c.1840) from deposit (006); two sherds of Black Glazed Red Earthenware (late 17th‐19th century) recovered from deposits (006) and (011); two sherds of Glazed Red Earthenware (late 17th‐ 19th century) from deposits (006) and (010); and two sherds of creamware (c.1760‐c.1830) from deposits (007) and (010). These deposits are all associated with the Phase II demolition of the structures; although it is likely that the recovered pottery assemblage is directly related to the Phase I occupation of these buildings rather than the Phase II abandonment of them (Appendix 2).

Metal assemblage Two iron objects were retrieved during the excavations at Kilskeagh 2. One iron nail (E4082:007:005), of uncertain date was recovered from an abandonment/demolition layer (007) associated with Structure 2 and one front plate of a padlock (E4082:016:001) was recovered from a rough lime mortar (016) also associated with Structure 2 (Appendix 2).

Miscellaneous small finds Glass assemblage: Four bottle body sherds (E4082:006:001, 004; E4082:007:003‐004 and E4082:020:001) and one window sherd (E4082:007:002) were recovered. Analysis by finds specialist Julie Franklin has

12 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082). identified the assemblage as being post‐medieval to modern in date, with the majority recovered from demolition layers (006) and (007)) associated with Structures 1 and 2. One green bottle base (E4082:020:001) was recovered from a dry stone wall (020) in the yard area, which abuts Structure 3 (Appendix 2).

Stone assemblage: One slate artefact (E4082:007:006) was recovered from a demolition layer (007) associated with Structure 2. This unusual artefact appears to have part of well‐executed design scratched into surface and was intended as a sundial. The 15° hour intervals would indicate an unusual 24‐hour clock dial rather than the standard 12‐hour one (Appendix 2).

Analysis of the samples A total of two samples of animal bone were recovered from the excavation.

The animal bone samples were analysed with a view to better understanding the pastoral economy of the site (Appendix 7). The animal bone assemblage from Kilskeagh 2 comprised a total of 58 fragments. These came from two contexts: an abandonment/demolition layer (007), associated with the Phase II activities of Structure 2, and infill (008) from the platform. The assemblage was found to be in a fair/good state of preservation with a low level of fragmentation. The majority of the bones were between 51‐60% complete. All but three bones from the assemblage represented elements from the head, meaty bones, feet and axial carcass of neonatal/infant specimens of pig and sheep/goat. There are no signs of butchery marks that would allow for the recognition of consumption evidence.

The three remaining samples were of sub‐adult sheep/goat (specifically a mandible, a femur and an axial vertebra). This evidence, along with the presence of limb bones, suggests that meat was the main product obtained from this species. Furthermore, the skeletal representation is indicative of slaughter waste and primary and secondary butchery waste, suggesting that processing (killing, preparation, consumption and disposal) was carried out in the same area.

13 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

5 DISCUSSION

The results of the excavation at Kilskeagh 2 point to a typical small farmyard of the district, with the dwelling facing south to southeast, positioned perpendicular to the road, with an enclosed yard having a stable/cow byre at the northeast and a further building at the southeast. Kilskeagh 2 formed part of a vernacular settlement marked on the first edition of the OS 1:10560 maps. No archaeological evidence was found to suggest a reason for the abandonment of the settlement.

5.1 Phasing and Chronology

Three phases of activity were identified at the site, all dating to the post‐medieval to modern period. The earliest phase of activity – Phase I – can only be dated through the recovered ceramic assemblage – which suggested a date range between the 17th to 19th century – and cartographic evidence, which shows the structures depicted on the 1st edition Ordnance map (1838‐9); this provides a terminus ante quem for the construction of the settlement.

Phase II was characterised by the apparent abandonment/demolition of all three structures. This event took place between 1839, when the 1st Edition 6” map was produced, and the 1890s, as the structures are no longer visible on the 1st Edition 25” OS map (1890‐1900) and there is no artefactual evidence to indicate settlement at the site much after the mid to late 19th century. Phase III was characterised by a deposit containing modern farm refuse and dates from the late 20th‐21st century.

5.2 The structures

In all, three structures were excavated and recorded at Kilskeagh 2. All observed a basic rectangular ground plan and were constructed of stone walling which rested directly on the ground surface or bedrock where possible, though Structure 2 was constructed on an artificial platform. Structures 1 and 2 showed evidence of internal dividing walls while Structure 3 was poorly preserved, with no evidence of internal sub‐division.

Structure 1 appears to be a stable or cow byre. The absence of evidence for a hearth or any finds associated with the structure gives weight to this assumption.

Structure 2 appears to be a dwelling of direct‐entry type with opposing doorways. The central space was likely the kitchen and general living area (housing the hearth), with a bedroom to each end of the building. The wall thicknesses (c. 0.6 m) are typical of stone‐walled vernacular houses in the western region of Ireland. The projections inside the northwest door on the cross wall between the kitchen and the northeast bedroom are unusual and might have supported a stillion (for keeping crocks of milk and water cool) or for a cupboard (B. O’Reilly, Survey Controller for the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, pers. comm.). Occasional flagstones suggest that the floors were once completely paved with flagstones.

Structure 3 was poorly preserved and function could not be determined. It was possibly an outbuilding, completing a small farmyard.

5.3 Vernacular architecture

14 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

The study of so‐called ‘vernacular’ architecture has gained interest in Ireland, and as such, the excavation of these structures at Kilskeagh 2 is well‐timed and will serve to add to the knowledge of vernacular housing in Ireland. Until the 20th century rural buildings in Ireland were regionally varied and traditional. House styles evolved to adapt to the local environment and economy. The term ‘vernacular architecture’ is now widely applied to this broad mass of buildings. In essence it refers to native buildings that are not designed by an architect and are generally constructed by their owners, employing locally acquired materials, traditional skills and drawing on inspiration handed down orally and by example (Ó Maitiú and O’Reilly 1997).

The traditional vernacular house in Ireland is a modest thatched building, of a single storey, with a rectangular plan. The house is rarely more than one room in width and each room opens into the next without a passage or central hall. The entrance and windows are placed on the side rather than end walls. Deviation from this arrangement was thought to be unlucky (Estyn Evans 1942, 61: 1957, 41). Structurally these houses are simple. The roof is supported by the walls and not by internal posts or pillars (Aalen et al. 1996, 146). It has been suggested that the vernacular houses of the north, west and south of Ireland were almost all single storied (Rothery 1997, 69‐71). It may be that the use of local building materials meant that these structures fitted well into the landscapes, of which they were literally a part (Campbell 1937; Estyn Evans 1957, 40).

There are two basic types of structure: the direct entry house and the lobby entry house. The general layout of each type is essentially the same, with both being rectangular in plan, possibly internally subdivided into units and single‐storied. The classification is based on the principal entrance to the structure and its relationship to the hearth. Direct entry houses have a primary doorway entering directly into a space (customarily the kitchen) with the hearth area in the gable wall, usually the wall furthest from the doorway.

In lobby entry houses the view into the space (customarily the kitchen) from the principal doorway is obscured by a ‘jam wall’ placed within the house at a short distance in front of the doorway, screening the room from unwelcome draughts. Many of these ‘jam walls’ have what is termed ‘a spy hole’, which permits the person inside to peer through and note the arrival of visitors. Some commentators believe that the two types of vernacular house have a distinctive regional distribution, with direct entry houses being located in the west of the country and lobby entry houses in the eastern region (Aalen et al. 1997, 149). This distribution pattern is mainly based on local building materials with stone structures being predominant in the western parts of the country and earthen structures prevalent in the east. Structure 2 at Kilskeagh 2, which has been identified as a dwelling, is assumed to be of the direct entry tradition as no evidence of a ‘jam wall’ has been noted within the structure.

Roofs were usually of thatch, though slate roofs are known where material is available locally, such as in parts of Co. Clare (Danaher 1975, 11). The main function of the roof in the Irish climate was to run off rain and, because of this, they were generally steeply pitched. Roofs were built in two traditional forms. Hipped roofs wrap around all four sides of the house and have a curved appearance. Gabled roofs are more angular, with triangular sides (the gables). Though they were built all over Ireland, hipped roofs were predominantly associated with ‘eastern’ lobby houses and gabled roofs with ‘western’ direct entry houses (Aalen et al. 1997, 149‐53).

A reason behind the geographical distribution of the roof types is that gabled roofs are better suited to windy conditions, such as on the western seaboard, where mass stone walls can hold the bearing weight of such a roof. Hipped roof construction is not so well suited to windy conditions but distributes the weight of the roof more evenly over the four walls, which is more suited to the east of the country where the walls tend to be earth or mud construction (Aalen et al. 1997, 54).

15 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

Two less common roofing method are also known to have been used at the time: the ‘cruck roof’ system and the ‘wall head truss’ system. The ‘cruck roof’ system, was in use in 20th century. This system, whereby a pair of curved timbers rose from ground level, meeting at the apex of the house and supporting the weight of the roof, was eespecially common in the north of the country. The cruck system may have employed post‐holes to support the vertical timbers but this is not a necessity as the posts may simply have sat on the ground surface or a support leaving no archaeological evidence (Bannon 1984, 168).

It is also suggested that the wall head truss system, whereby pairs of angled timbers were extended from the head of the walls and tied with horizontal bracers, may have been used (O’Connor 2002). Perhaps some roofs were covered in thatch and roped against the wind, as can be seen in Co. Donegal and along the western seaboard (Estyn Evans 1957, 52).

The structures excavated at Kilskeagh 2 appear to be the direct entry variety and hold with the regional westerly distribution of this type, though the hearth within Structure 2 was associated with an interior dividing wall, rather than at the gable ends, as would be more typical of this structure type. It shares this characteristic with other vernacular structures investigated during this scheme such as those at Annagh 1 and Kilskeagh 4 and 5, so it is possible that this could reflect a distinct local or regional preference.

The direct entry house form has developed from archaic structures, termed byre‐dwellings or generally longhouses. Widespread in the west of the country until the 19th century, they incorporated both animal byre and dwelling in one compartment (Aalen et al. 1997, 149). There is a possibility that Structures 1 and 3 were byre‐dwellings, with internal walls dividing the habitation areas for people and animals. There was no evidence of any drainage features associated with these structures, which could be expected with a byre, however, the absence of evidence for a hearth area in every ‘room’ suggests that these were not solely dwellings.

The bed out‐shot, consisting of an alcove in the back wall of the house beside the hearth, is a typical feature of direct entry houses and they have a clear westerly distribution (Aalen et al. 1997, 151; Lucas 1970). Many old houses possessed a large alcove near the fire. Frequently it formed part of the external structure of the house; this box‐like projection being used to accommodate a bed. None of the structures at Kilskeagh 2 had any indication of this type of structure.

Stone was the most common walling material, and drystone walling was common in the far west. Good quality ashlar stonework is rarely encountered in vernacular buildings. A notable exception is Ballyknockan, which was a village of stonecutters near a quarry in Co. Wicklow, dating to the early 19th century (Ó Maitiú and O’ Reilly 1997). The structures at Kilskeagh 2 were all stone–built, with the outer and inner faces of the exterior walls faced with flat faced stones and having a core made up of mortar, cobbles and small irregularly‐shaped stones.

Remains of similar post‐medieval settlements such as this are known throughout the country, with excavated examples from Rough Point, Co Donegal (Coyne and Collins 2004) to Beara, Co. Cork (Breen 2004). The three structures at Kilskeagh 2 do not fit easily into any of the current views of vernacular structures. Each structure differs, reflecting the nature of its use and local materials available for construction at the time rather than reflecting a particular tradition.

5.3 Vernacular Settlement

16 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

The three excavated sites at Kilskeagh (Kilskeagh 2 (E4082), Kilskeagh 4 (E4086) and Kilskeagh 5 (E4088)) formed part of a vernacular settlement marked on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey maps (1840). The buildings had entirely disappeared by the third edition maps and the field system in the area had been largely reorganised into larger fields by the same time. The settlement was a partly regular‐row settlement, with buildings mainly set perpendicular to the road, which ran in a northwest/southeast direction to the southwest of the site. This arrangement is rarer than that of buildings set parallel to the road (although not necessarily different in chronological terms). Based on the cartographic evidence and the excavations carried out at Kilskeagh 2, 4 and 5, the settlement seems to have contained about ten dwellings and a smaller number of outbuildings. There were three small farmyards, with most of the buildings standing on one side of a cul‐de‐sac road. This road may have continued further into the townland or beyond it, as might be suggested by the field boundaries. (B. O’Reilly, Survey Controller for the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, pers. comm.) Griffith’s Valuation of c. 1850 lists just two tenants: Michael Hennelly with a herd’s house and land and Marcus Loughnane with offices and land; and one landlord; Robert Browne in Kilskeagh townland.

5.4 Conclusions

The excavation at Kilskeagh 2 will assist in broadening the knowledge of this period in Ireland. The finds assemblage along with the cartographic evidence point to these buildings being part of a vernacular settlement, which also included Kilskeagh 4 (E4086) and Kilskeagh 5 (E4088). The settlement had been depopulated by the 1850s, presumably as a result of the Great Famine, whether through death/disease or migration/emigration. All in all the settlement at Kilskeagh is historically instructive and, as it depicts some pre‐first edition Ordnance Survey buildings, it is also interesting from the point of view of settlement history/development (B. O’Reilly, Survey Controller for the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, pers. comm.).

The structures at Kilskeagh 2 share a number of common characteristics including their general construction using local stone. The layout of each structure is broadly similar with internal wall divisions in two of the three structures. The main variation in the structures involves the placement and/or evidence for hearths. It is generally held that structures without any evidence of a hearth were solely used for the accommodation of animals.

The settlement does not appear to have been in use for any great length of time, due to the general scarcity of stratigraphy and artefactual evidence. It is possibly that the settlement was occupied for as little as a generation or two before it was abandoned. The abandonment of the site appears to have been a planned and ordered action rather than occurring in a hurried fashion, as the lack of complete artefacts retrieved from the excavation illustrates.

17 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

6 ARCHIVE QUANTITIES

The site archive is comprised of the following materials:

Item Quantity Context Sheets 41 Plans 3 Sections 0 Photographs 207 (Kilskeagh 2, 4 and 5) Registers 5 Notebooks 0

The archive material is contained within one box.

Storage of the archive in a suitable format and location is required in order to provide for any future archaeological research. It is proposed that in addition to the paper archive a digital copy is prepared. The archive is currently stored in the offices of Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd., Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Co. Cork. It is proposed that following completion of post‐ excavation the archive will be deposited with the National Monuments Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, or the National Museum of Ireland, or such other repository as may be directed by the Client’s Representative and the Project Archaeologist.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The director would like to thank the following for their contribution to the excavation and post‐ excavation phases of this project:

• Martin Jones, NRA Project Archaeologist, Galway County Council, National Roads Design Office. • Tom Cannon, Senior Engineer Hyder Tobin, Joseph O’Brien, Resident Engineer Hyder Tobin, Tony Collins and Laura Heneghan, Senior Engineer Galway County Council. • Project and post‐excavation managers, Colm Moloney, Damian Shiels, Åsa Carlsson and Ross MacLeod, Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd. • Teresa Bolger, Editor, Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd. • Graphics department, Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd. • T.J. O’Connell, Site Supervisor, Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd. • The excavation team. • Barry O’Reilly, Survey Controller, National Inventory of Architectural Heritage

18 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

REFERENCES

Aalen, F.H.A., Whelan, K. And Stout, M. 1997 Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape. Cork: Cork University Press

Bartlett, T. 2009 N17/19 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme. Archaeological Consultancy Services: Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Stage (i) Archaeological Services. Rathmorrissy Ringfort GA084:065. E4024. Unpublished Report by CRDS Ltd for Galway County Council.

Bolger, T., Doyle, L. O’Neill, N., Bartlett, T. and O’Neill, T. 2010 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) as part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Stage (i) Test Excavations, Addendum Report (E4022). Unpublished report by Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd for Galway County Council.

Bonsall, J. and Gimson, H. 2006 N17 Galway to Tuam National Road Scheme County Galway, Archaeological Geophysical Survey. Unpublished report by Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics for Galway County Council.

Brannon, N.F. 1984 A small excavation at Tildarg townland, near Ballyclare, County Antrim, in Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 47‐, 163‐70.

Breen, C. 2004 The Archaeology and Landscape Cultural History of Bantry and Beara, 1200‐1650. Unpublished PhD thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.

Campbell, A. 1937 Notes on the Irish House, in Folkliv 1, 207‐34

Coyne, F. and Collins T. 2004 Excavation of a Post‐Medieval Settlement at Rough Point, Killybegs, Couty Donegal. Limerick: Davis Printers

Danaher, K. 1975 Ireland’s Vernacular Architecture. Dublin: Bord Failte

Estyn Evans, E. 1942 Irish Heritage. Dundalk: Dundalgan Press

Estyn Evans, E. 1957 Irish Folkways. London: Routledge

Gailey, A. 1984 Rural Houses of the North of Ireland. Edinburgh: John Donald

Galway County Council 2007 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Motorway Environmental Impact Statement. Galway County Council, Galway

Lucas, A.T. 1970 Contributions to the Study of the Irish House: a possible ancestry of the bed outshot in Folklife, 8, 81‐98

O’Connor, K.D. 2002 Housing in Later Medieval Gaelic Ireland in Ruralia, 4, 201‐10

Ó Maitú, S. And O’Reilly, B. 1997 Ballyknockan: a Wicklow stonecutter’s village. Dublin: Woodford Press

Rothery, s. 1997 A Field Guide to the Buildings of Ireland. Dublin: Lilliput Press

19 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

Sheila Lane and Associates 2007 Archaeological and cultural heritage technical report. In Galway County Council Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Motorway Environmental Impact Statement. Volume 3. Galway County Council, Galway

Shine, D., Bartlett, T., Johnson, A. and McKinstry, L. 2009a N17/19 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme. Archaeological Consultancy Services: Galway (Rathmorrissy to Tuam) Stage (i) Archaeological Services. Section 1 (Ch 25,400‐21,100) E4022. Unpublished Report by CRDS Ltd for Galway County Council.

Shine, D., Bartlett, T., Johnson, A. and McKinstry, L. 2009b N17/19 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme. Archaeological Consultancy Services: Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Stage (i) Archaeological Services. Section 2 (Ch 21,100‐13,050) E4022. Unpublished Report by CRDS Ltd for Galway County Council.

Shine, D., Bartlett, T., Johnson, A. and McKinstry, L. 2009c N17/19 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme. Archaeological Consultancy Services: Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Stage (i) Archaeological Services. Section 3 (Ch 13,050‐4,580) E4022. Unpublished Report by CRDS Ltd for Galway County Council.

Shine, D., Bartlett, T., Johnson, A. and McKinstry, L. 2009d N17/19 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme. Archaeological Consultancy Services: Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Stage (i) Archaeological Services. Section 4 (Ch 4,580‐0) E4022. Unpublished Report by CRDS Ltd for Galway County Council.

Cartographic Sources

First Edition Ordnance Survey map, 6”:1 mile, 1838‐9; Co. Galway – Sheet No. 71

First Edition Ordnance Survey, 25”:1 mile, 1890‐98; Co. Galway – Sheet No 71‐05 and 71‐09

Record of Monuments and Places for County Galway, Sheet Nos 71

Electronic Sources

Bennet, I. (ed.) 2009 Excavations.ie, database of Irish excavation reports [online]. Available http://www.excavations.ie/Pages/HomePage.php [Accessed April 2011]

Griffiths Valuations First survey of property ownership in Ireland from 1848 to 1864 [online]. Available http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith‐ valuation/index.xml?action=doNameSearch&PlaceID=530734&county=Galway&barony=Clare&paris h=Athenry&townland=%3Cb%3EKilskeagh%3C/b%3E [Accessed: April 2011]

National Monuments Service, 2007 National monuments – map viewer [online]. Available http://www.archaeology.ie/smrmapviewer/mapviewer.aspx [Accessed: April 2011]

Ordnance Survey of Ireland, 2009 Historic mapping [online]. Available http://ims0.osiemaps.ie/website/publicviewer/main.aspx# [Accessed: April 2011]

20 M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

Appendix 1 – Context Register for Kilskeagh 2

Context Type Fill of: Filled by: Length Width Depth Description Interpretation no. (m) (m) (m) 001 Layer ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 0.2 Mid grey brown silty sand Topsoil 002 Layer ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 0.6 Mid orange brown silty sand with few small stones Natural, located outside buildings or enclosing walls 003 Layer ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 0.09 Mid grey brown silty sand with frequent gravel and Natural, located within the small stones buildings or enclosing walls 004 Layer ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ Grey limestone with natural fissures and cracks Bedrock 005 Layer ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 0.3‐0.6 Rubble layer comprising cobbles and medium to Rubble associated with large irregular limestone blocks demolition, with modern plastic sheeting and twine 006 Layer ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 0.35‐ Rubble layer comprising small to large stones, many Mix of demolition and 1.3 of which were associated with building material. clearance material The larger stones were roughly faced 007 Layer ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 0.28‐ Rubble layer comprising small to large stones, many Rubble associated with 0.51 of which were associated with building material and demolition contained fragments of mortar throughout. 008 Structure ‐ ‐ 11.8 6.3 0.3 Platform comprising infill and revetment wall (019) Platform constructed to on which structure 2 was built create a level area on which to build 009 Layer ‐ ‐ 0.39 0.23 0.2 Rubble layer comprising a mix of small to medium Rubble, possible demolition cobbles and medium to large stones which may have layer covering the remains been building material of structure 2 010 Layer ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 0.18‐ Rubble layer comprising a mix of rough cobbles and Rubble, possible demolition 0.45 small to medium sized stones layer cover remains of yard and western wall 011 Layer ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 0.23‐ Rubble layer comprising a mix of rough cobbles and Rubble, possible demolition 0.48 small to medium sized stones layer cover remains southeast yard wall 012 Masonry ‐ ‐ 11.3 5.2 0.48 Cut limestone blocks of various sizes, Structure 1. Entrance in

Appendices M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010) forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme, Co. Galway. Final Excavation Report for Kilskeagh 2 in the townland of Kilskeagh, Co. Galway. (E4082).

Context Type Fill of: Filled by: Length Width Depth Description Interpretation no. (m) (m) (m) predominantly sub‐rectangular with flat to irregular south facing wall. Two faces. Irregular coursed walls with some evidence of internal rooms sand bonding comprising Structure 1. 013 Masonry ‐ ‐ 4.05 0.7 0.75 Cut limestone blocks of various sizes, Internal wall dividing predominantly sub‐rectangular with flat to irregular Structure into two rooms faces. Irregular coursed walls with some evidence of sand bonding comprising Structure 1. 014 Masonry ‐ ‐ 3 0.3‐0.8 0.66 Limestone of various sizes and shapes, the larger of Internal wall in structure 2 which have been roughly dressed. Large stones used in the lower courses with small stones used higher up. Alcove set in the NE face of the wall. Faced with rough limestone mortar with frequent pebbles 015 Deposit 040 ‐ 0.3 0.3 0.07 Moderate to loose mix of dark brown and mid‐light Fill of sub‐spherical oven brown (reddened and blackened in patches), mix of (040) silty clay and heat affected clay with frequent flecks of charcoal and occasional carbonised seeds 016 Deposit ‐ ‐ 0.25 0.2 0.15 Compact very light brown plaster(rough lime Formed by exposure and mortar) subsequent decay of plaster (017) 017 Deposit ‐ ‐ 3.7 (N‐ 0.8 (E‐ 0.01‐ Very compact light brown white/cream rough lime Plaster/mortar applied to S) W) 0.03 mortar internal walls of structure 2 018 Deposit ‐ ‐ 1.8 (N‐ 2 (E‐ ‐ Very compact light brown sandy clay with shell and Floor surface of the east S) W) small stones room of structure 2 019 Masonry ‐ ‐ 11.8 6.3 0.3 Roughly faced stones of one course with evidence of Stone revetment of a rubble some mortar on the step leading to the structure. fill (008) which forms a platform for structure 2 020 Masonry ‐ ‐ 10.9 0.5 0.5 Irregular rough uncoursed mixed stones with no Yard wall of dry stone bonding material construction. Abutts structures 3 021 Structure ‐ ‐ 6.5 4.05 0.1 Moderately compact, possibly due to exposure, light Floor surface area of main sandy brown gritty sandy silt with occasional large room in structure 1

Context Type Fill of: Filled by: Length Width Depth Description Interpretation no. (m) (m) (m) pebbles and calcic inclusions, lying directly over bedrock 022 Structure ‐ ‐ 3.85 2.95 0.04‐ Loosely compact but very disturbed sandy brown Floor surface of side room in 0.10 sandy gritty silt with some small pebbles and calcic structure 1 inclusions, lying directly over bedrock 023 Deposit ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 0.01 Cemented chalky white gritty sandy mortar/plaster, Mortar/plaster lining on surviving only in patches walls of main room of structure 1 024 ‐ ‐ ‐ 025 Masonry ‐ ‐ 0.85 0.4 ‐ Flattish worn stone flags with mortar bonding Remains of set of steps set material. Very disturbed into SE side of platform (008) with revetment (109) leading to entrance to structure 2 026 Masonry ‐ ‐ 0.8 0.22 ‐ Flattish worn stone flags with mortar bonding Remains of set of steps set material. Very disturbed into NW side of platform (008) with revetment (109) leading to entrance to structure 2 027 Masonry ‐ ‐ 7 0.75 ‐ Single course of roughly dressed limestone blocks External wall to the south of with rubble core and rough lime based bonding structure 2. Very little material. Orientated E/NE‐W/SW remains with the upper courses robbed out 028 Masonry ‐ ‐ 3.7 0.3 0.3‐ Between 3 and 7 courses of neatly dressed limestone Internal wall of structure 2. 0.68 blocks with rough lime based plaster bonding Neatly dressed face beneath material. Orientated N/NW‐S/SE lime plaster 029 Masonry ‐ ‐ 0.58 0.23 0.42 Between 1 and 3 courses of neatly dressed limestone This represents one of two blocks with rough lime based bonding material. wall extensions creating a Orientated E/NE‐W/SW, abutting wall (028) small alcove within structure 2. 030 Masonry ‐ ‐ 0.6 0.23 0.29‐ Between 2 and 3 courses of neatly dressed limestone This represents one of two

Context Type Fill of: Filled by: Length Width Depth Description Interpretation no. (m) (m) (m) 0.42 blocks with rough lime based bonding material. wall extensions creating a Orientated E/NE‐W/SW, abutting wall (028) and small alcove within external wall (027) structure 2. 031 Deposit ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 0.03‐ Hard mid‐light whitish brown rough lime mortar Mortar/plaster lining of 0.06 with remains of white limewash in places and internal walls of structure 2, frequent fine pebbles. Surviving in three main possible the same as (017) patches measuring 0.7 x 0.33 m, 1.3 x 0.11 m and 0.22 x 0.09 m 032 Deposit ‐ ‐ 3.8 ‐ 0.01‐ Hard light brown with white/cream rough lime Mortar/plaster to internal 0.02 mortar face of walls (027) and (028) 033 Deposit ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ Light yellowish brown sandy gritty mortar among Mortar binding steps (025) the stone steps to SE of structure 2 034 Deposit ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ Light yellowish brown sandy gritty mortar among Mortar binding steps (026) the stone steps to NW of structure 2 035 Deposit ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ Hard light brown with rough lime mortar and fine Mortar/plaster lining to wall pebbles with white lime wash in places (014), structure 2 036 Deposit ‐ ‐ 0.37 0.36 0.02 Compact but disturbed light yellowy brown Mortar floor surface in sandy/gritty layer with some larger pebbles and structure 2 occasional calcic inclusions 037 Masonry ‐ ‐ 0.7 0.15 0.5 Five courses of medium and small undressed Internal wall set into the limestone stones with rough lime mortar and alcove in the NE face of the frequent coarse to fine pebbles, orientated NW‐SE larger internal wall (014). Acted as back of hearth (038) 038 Deposit ‐ ‐ 1.4 1 (NE‐ ‐ Sub‐rectangular in plan fire hardened soil of fire Area of burning with (NW‐ SW) reddened sandy clay with six flagstones laid to the associated flagstones, SE) south, east and northeast boundaries associated with oven (040) 039 Deposit 040 ‐ 0.3 0.3 0.1 Fire hardened, particularly on interior, light slightly Clay lining of oven (040) greyish brown, with blackening to the interior, slightly sandy clay with occasional fine pebbles oven lining

Context Type Fill of: Filled by: Length Width Depth Description Interpretation no. (m) (m) (m) 040 Masonry ‐ (015) 0.3 0.3 ‐ Sub‐circular/sub‐spherical corbelled structure of up Corbelled oven structure (039) to seven courses of small undressed limestone stones bonded with clay 041 Deposit ‐ ‐ 0.53 0.42 0.22 Hard light orange/brown sandy clay with frequent Packing material between (NE‐ (NW‐ fine and coarse pebbles and occasional small stones oven (040) and wall (014) SW) SE) 042 Masonry 11.25 4.3 0.2‐ Cut limestone blocks of various sizes, The walling of Structure 3. 0.45 predominantly sub‐rectangular with flat to irregular Partially destroyed faces. Irregular coursed walls with some evidence of sand bonding comprising Structure 2 though nearly half of the overall structure was destroyed. The wall had a thickness of between 0.8‐0.85m 043 Layer 2.6 1.8 0.08 Rough very disturbed cobbled layer Possible floor surface 044 Layer ‐ ‐ 0.2‐ Rubble layer comprising small to large stones, many Rubble/demolition layer 0.8 of which were associated with building material. covering structure 3 The larger stones were roughly faced

Appendix 2 – Finds Register for Kilskeagh 2

Find no. Material Object/Fabric Description Spot Date 19th ‐ 20th E4082:006:001 Glass Bottle Very pale blue bottle sherd century 19th ‐ 20th E4082:006:004 Glass Bottle Very pale green bottle sherd century E4082:007:002 Glass Window Very pale green sherd Modern E4082:007:003 Glass Bottle Green bottle neck 1780‐1800 E4082:007:004 Glass Bottle Green bottle rim 1800‐20 E4082:020:001 Glass Bottle Green bottle base 1800‐20 E4082:007:005 Iron Nail E4082:016:001 Iron Padlock Front plate from padlock Modern E4082:006:002 Pottery Pearlware Heavy ring base sherd 1775‐1840 Black Glazed late 17th ‐ Rilled sherd, black glaze E4082:006:003 Pottery Red 19th both sides Earthenware century Thick base sherd, red‐brown late 17th ‐ Glazed Red E4082:006:005 Pottery glaze on interior and part of 19th Earthenware exterior century Joining sherds from dish E4082:007:001 Pottery Creamware 1760‐1830 base Angles sherd, possibly from E4082:010:001 Pottery Creamware 1760‐1830 bowl or jar late 17th ‐ Glazed Red Red fabric, red‐brown glaze E4082:010:002 Pottery 19th Earthenware on interior, thick ?jar sherd century Black Glazed late 17th ‐ Red fabric, internal black E4082:011:001 Pottery Red 19th glaze, thick ?jar sherd Earthenware century Thick slab of slate with rough edges. Part of well‐ executed design scratched into surface. Two concentric arcs forming band within which are scratched Roman numerals III, IIII, V, VI at 15° intervals. Though there is space for numbers I and II, these have not been marked, E4082:007:006 Stone Sundial suggesting item broken and abandoned during manufacture. Radial lines emerge from exterior of band to edge of sherd. Possibly intended as a sundial. The equidistant 15° hour intervals would have made it inaccurate at times other than noon, but simplified dials such as this are known

during this period. It may also have been intended as a clock face, though it is perhaps a little rough for this. The 15° hour intervals would indicate an unusual 24hr clock dial rather than the standard 12hrs.

Appendix 3 – Sample Registers for Kilskeagh 2

Soil Samples

Sample No. Context No. Description 001 (018) Very compact light brown sandy clay with shell and small stones Moderate to loose mix of dark brown and mid‐light brown (reddened and blackened in patches), mix of silty clay and heat affected clay with 002 (015) frequent flecks of charcoal and occasional carbonised seeds 003 (039) & (040) Clay lining and material associated with the oven within structure 2

Animal Bone Samples

Sample No. Context No. Description 001 006 Found in rubble of structure 1 002 007 Found in rubble associated with structure 2

Mortar Samples

Sample No. Context No. Description 001 (017) Very compact light brown white/cream rough lime mortar 002 (033) Mortar floor surface at southern entranceway to structure 2 003 (034) Mortar floor surface at northern entranceway to structure 2 004 (036) Mortar floor surface from the central room within structure 2 Hard mid‐light whitish brown rough lime mortar with remains of 005 (031) white limewash in places and frequent fine pebbles.

Appendix 4 – Drawing Register for Kilskeagh 2

Drawing Sheet No. No. Scale Type Description 001 1:50 Plan Plan of structure 2 002 1:50 Plan Plan of structure 1 003 1:50 Plan Plan of structure 3

Appendix 5 – Photo Register for Kilskeagh 2

Direction Photo no. facing Description E4082:490 E Pre‐ex view of site E4082:491 N Pre‐ex view of site E4082:492 N Pre‐ex view of site E4082:493 NE Pre‐ex view of site E4082:494 E Pre‐ex view of site E4082:556 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:557 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:558 NE View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:559 NE View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:560 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:561 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:562 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:563 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:564 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:565 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:566 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:567 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:568 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:569 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:570 SW View of alcove area with oven (015) E4082:571 W Working shot of site E4082:572 NE View of easterly boundary wall of site E4082:573 W View of southerly boundary wall of site E4082:574 E View of northerly boundary wall of site E4082:575 S View of westerly boundary wall of site E4082:576 W View of northerly boundary wall of site E4082:577 E View of northerly boundary wall of site E4082:578 E View of northerly boundary wall of site E4082:579 E View of southerly boundary wall of site E4082:580 E View of structure 1 E4082:581 E View of structure 1 E4082:582 W View of structure 1 E4082:583 W View of structure 1 E4082:584 E View of structure 1 E4082:585 E View of westerly room of structure 1 E4082:586 N View of easterly room of structure 1 E4082:587 W View of west wall of structure 1 E4082:588 S View of entrance to structure 1 E4082:589 N View of entrance to structure 1 E4082:590 E View of structure 3 E4082:591 NE View of trackway E4082:592 SW View of trackway E4082:593 N View of blocked up internal doorway E4082:594 N View of blocked up internal doorway E4082:595 N View of blocked up internal doorway

Direction Photo no. facing Description E4082:596 N View of blocked up internal doorway E4082:597 N View of blocked up internal doorway E4082:598 N View of blocked up internal doorway E4082:599 N View of blocked up internal doorway (003), (004), (005), (006) and associated walls with slot through E4082:600 NE (004) (003), (004), (005), (006) and associated walls with slot through E4082:601 SW (004) E4082:602 SE Extent of (003), showing slot through (003) and (004) E4082:603 NE Slot through (003), showing (004), (005) and (006) E4082:604 E4082:605 SW View of hearth area, structure 2 E4082:606 SW View of hearth area, structure 2 E4082:607 SW View of hearth area, structure 2 E4082:608 SW View of hearth area, structure 2 E4082:609 S View of northerly room in structure 2 E4082:610 S View of northerly room in structure 2 E4082:611 S View of site E4082:612 NW View of structure 2 E4082:613 NW View of structure 2 E4082:614 SE View of structure 2 E4082:615 N View of site E4082:616 E View of internal wall of structure 2 E4082:617 S View of structure 2 (southern room) E4082:618 S View of structure 2 (southern room) E4082:619 N View of site and structure 2 E4082:620 S View of easterly wall and structure 2 E4082:621 N View of internal doorway in structure 2 E4082:622 N View of internal doorway in structure 2 E4082:623 N View of middle room of structure 2 E4082:624 E View of easterly entranceway to structure 2 E4082:625 W View of westerly entrance to structure 2 E4082:626 S View of platform with structure 2 E4082:627 W View of platform with structure 2 E4082:628 W View of platform with structure 2 E4082:637 E N/W end of structure 1

Appendix 6 – Site Matrix for Kilskeagh 2

Phase III 5

Structure Structure Structure 1 2 3 Yard

Phase II 6 7 44 10 11

15 41 39

38 35 36 16 17 31 32 18 23 21 22 43 33 34 37

12 13 14 29 30 27 28 25 26 42 20

Phase I

Appendix 7 – Faunal remains assessment from Kilskeagh 2, Co. Galway (E4082) By: Claudia Tommasino Suárez

Methodology

Identification and quantification During the assessment each specimen was identified according to species, skeletal element, age and sex where possible. The animal bone reference collection located in Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd, Unit 1 Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Co. Cork was utilised. The mammal specimens that could not be assigned to a species were recorded using the categories “large mammal” (lm), “medium mammal 1” (mm1), “medium mammal 2” (mm2) and “small mammal” (sm) (Harland et al. 2003). The specimens categorised as “large mammal” could belong to cattle, horse or big a cervid such as red deer or reindeer. The skeletal elements are divided into the four parts of the skeleton: head (skull, mandible); axial carcass or trunk (vertebrae and ribs); meaty bones or upper limbs (scapulae, pelvis and its respective limb); and feet or lower limbs (metapodials, phalanges and carpals/tarsals).

The quantification of the assemblage was carried out using NISP (Number of Identifiable Specimens) calculated as the total number of fragments attributed to a specific taxon (Grayson 1984; O’Connor 2004; Reitz and Wing 1999). All data is stored in digital and written form in Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd, Unit 1 Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Co. Cork.

Ageing The tooth wear for sheep/goat was assessed using the method described by Payne (1973; 1987). Subsequently, Higham (1967) was used to assign age categories for mandibles and loose mandibular M3.

The epiphyseal fusion assessment was carried out according to Silver (1969).

Taphonomy and butchery The recognition of any taphonomic factors such as gnawing, burning, texture and completeness of the bones and the butchery marks presents was dealt with according to Lyman’s (1994).

Results

The animal bone assemblage from Kilskeagh 2 came from two different contexts including a layer (007) from rubble associated with demolition and from the structure (008), comprising a total of 58 fragments.

The assemblage from Kilskeagh 2 was, in general, found to be in a fair/good state of preservation with a low level of fragmentation. The majority of the bones were between 51‐60% complete.

The assemblage principally consists of elements from the head, meaty bones, feet and axial carcass of neonatal/infant specimens of pig and sheep/goat. There are no signs of butchery marks that would allow for the recognition of consumption evidence. It seems unlikely that this presence of sub‐adult pig and sheep/goat specimens represents a trend in the consumption of piglets or lambs. Alternatively, it is possible that these bones represent a small number of specimens who died of natural causes.

Three specimens of sub‐adult sheep/goat were found including a mandible, a femur and an axial vertebra. The first skeletal element suggests that the specimen was killed between 25‐26 months old

(Payne 1973; 1987; Higham 1967). According to Hambleton (1999) an economic system centred on meat would produce a high amount of sheep/goat specimens killed between 18 and 36 months and cattle slaughtered between 18 and 42 months. This evidence, along with the presence of limb bones, suggests that meat was the main product obtained from this species. Furthermore, the skeletal representation is indicative of slaughter waste and primary and secondary butchery waste, suggesting that processing (killing, preparation, consumption and disposal) was carried out in the same area. This is a trend common across Ireland from the Neolithic onwards (Waddell 1998; McCormick and Murray 2007; Denham 2007).

Four elements from the sample indicate that burrowing activity may have resulted in the intrusion of modern bones into the assemblage. One small rodent mandible and three bird bones, all in an excellent state of preservation, do not seem to be of archaeological origin.

Bibliography Denham, S. D. 2007 Animal exploitation in medieval Ireland. Unpublished PhD thesis, Queens University, Belfast.

Grayson, D. 1984. Quantitative zooarchaeology. Academic Press Inc, Washington

Hambleton, E. 1999 Animal husbandry regimes in Iron Age Britain. BAR British Series 282, Oxford.

Harland, J.F., J. H. Barrett, J. Carrott, K. Dobney, and D. Jaques 2003 ‘The York System: An integrated zooarchaeological database for research and teaching’. Internet Archaeology 13.

Higham, C. 1967 ‘Stockrearing as a cultural factor in prehistoric Europe’, Proceedings of the prehistoric society, 33, 84‐106.

Lyman, R. 1994. Vertebrate taphonomy. Cambridge: Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology.

McCormick, F. and Murray, E. 2007 Knowth and the zooarchaeology of Early Christian Ireland. Excavations at Knowth 3. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.

O’Connor, T. 2004. The archaeology of animal bones. Sutton Publishing Limited, Great Britain.

Payne, S. 1973 ‘Kill off patterns in sheep and goats: the mandible from Asvan Kale’. In: Anatolian Studies, 23, 281‐303.

Payne, S. 1987 ‘Reference codes for wear states in the mandibular cheek teeth of sheep and goats’. In: Journal of Archaeological Science, 14, 609‐614.

Reitz, E. J. and E. S. Wing, E. S. 1999. Zooarchaeology. Cambridge manuals in archaeology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Silver, I. 1969 ‘The ageing of domestic animals’, in Brothwell, D. and Higgs, E. (eds.) Science in Archaeology 2. Thames and Hudson. 331‐58.

Waddell, J. 1998. The Prehistoric archaeology of Ireland. Galway University Press, Ireland.

Appendices Kilskeagh 2 Kilskeagh 2

GA03235

GA03237 Kilskeagh 4 E4082 GA03236

Kilskeagh 2 K5

Kilskeagh 5

GA03238

GA03239

0 500 m Reproduced from client supplied digital mapping resources. C Ordnance Surveyof Ireland and Government of Ireland. Kilskeagh 6

Key M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010), forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP scheme, Co. Galway, Stage (iii). Sites CPO/LMA Figure 1: E4082 / Kilskeagh 2. Site location.

RMP Drawn by: JMM 1st edit by: SN 2nd edit by: Signed off: E4082E4082 KilskeaghKilskeagh 2

StructureStructure 2 StructureStructure 1

StructureStructure 3

0 100 m ReproducedReproduced fromfrom 1830-1840s1830-1840s OrdnanceOrdnance SurveySurvey ofof Ireland,Ireland, 1stst EEdition,dition, SixSix InchInch toto OneOne MileMile map,map, GalwayGalway C OrdnanceOrdnance SurveySurvey ofof IrelandIreland andand GovernmentGovernment ofof Ireland.Ireland. LicenceLicence No.No. ENEN 00081110008111 http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,547501,735567,7,8http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,544781,742508,6,8http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,544781,742508,6,8

M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010), forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP scheme, Co. Galway, Stage (iii).

Figure 2: E4082 / Kilskeagh 2, Site location on extract from First Edition 6” OS (1840) map. X = 147577.7290 Y = 235533.4200 Z = 126.1820

021 Floor surface 020

013

022 012 Floor surface

Structure 1

Structure 2 020 018 Surface 030 025 025 029 028 039-041 038 026

014 037 027 042

018 025 Structure 3

020

X = 147564.3600 Y = 235492.4010 Z = 126.1660 0 10 m

M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010), forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP scheme, Co. Galway, Stage (iii). Hearth Figure 3a: E4082 / Kilskeagh 2. Site layout.

Rubble Structure 2

020

018 Surface

030

025

029 025 028

028 039-041

038

026

014 037

027

025 018

0 2.5 m

M17 Galway (Rathmorrissy) to Tuam Archaeological Services Contract (2010), forming part of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP scheme, Co. Galway, Stage (iii). Hearth Figure 3b: E4082 / Kilskeagh 2 / Kilskeagh.

Rubble Plate 1 - Pre-excavation view of site, facing northeast.

Plate 2 - View of Structure 1, facing west. Plate 3 - View of Structure 2 and platform (018), facing west.

Plate 4 - Alcove area with oven (040), facing southwest. Plate 5 - Hearth area, Structure 2, facing southwest.

Plate 6 - View of Structure 3, facing east. Plate 7 - North boundary wall (020), facing north.

Plate 8 - Post-excavation view of site, facing north Plate 9 - View of site, looking northeast.

E4082:006:002 E4082:006:003

E4082:011:001 E4082:006:005 E4082:010:002

Plate 10 - Finds assemblage shot of representative post-medieval pottery found on site. Plate 11 - Sundial slate, E4082:007:006.

E4082:006:003

E4082:010:002