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 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 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). 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.