Eachtra Journal Issue 2 [ISSN 2009-2237] Archaeological Excavation Report E2449- Urraghry, Co. Galway Burnt mound Archaeological Excavation Report, Urraghry, Co. Galway Burnt mound June 2009 Client: National Roads Design Office, Galway County Council E No.: E2449 Ministerial Order No.: A024 Licensee: John Tierney Written by: Mick Drumm Contact details: John Tierney The Forge, Innishannon, Co. Cork. Penny Johnston Tel.: 021 470 16 16 Fax: 021 470 16 28 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.eachtra.ie E2449 | A024/36 Urraghry, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................1 2. Site Location, Topography and Soils ....................................................................1 3. Background to the Development .........................................................................1 4. Archaeological and Historical Background .........................................................2 4.1 Prehistoric period ...............................................................................................2 5. Results of Excavation ...........................................................................................4 5.1 Burnt mound .....................................................................................................4 5.2 Trough ..............................................................................................................5 5.3 Palaeochannel ....................................................................................................5 5.4 Gully ..................................................................................................................5 5.5 Stake-holes .........................................................................................................5 5.6 Radiocarbon dates ..............................................................................................6 5.7 Lithics ................................................................................................................6 5.8 Charred plant remains .......................................................................................6 5.9 Charcoal ............................................................................................................6 6. Discussion ...........................................................................................................7 7. Bibliography ........................................................................................................9 7.1 Websites ............................................................................................................10 8 Figures ................................................................................................................11 9 Plates ..................................................................................................................17 10 Appendices .........................................................................................................21 10.1 Appendix 1: Stratigraphic index ........................................................................22 10.2 Appendix 2: Stratigraphic matrix ......................................................................28 10.3 Appendix 3: Groups and Sub-groups text ..........................................................29 10.4 Appendix 4: Finds Register ...............................................................................34 10.5 Appendix 5: Lithics Finds Report .....................................................................35 Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2449-urraghry-co-galway/ iii E2449 | A024/36 Urraghry, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 Table of contents cont. 10.6 Appendix 6: Plant remains analysis ...................................................................38 10.7 Appendix 7: Charcoal analysis ..........................................................................39 List of Figures Figure 1: Discovery series OS map showing the route of the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road (Contract 4) and the location of all excavation sites ..................................... 11 Figure 2: The route of the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road (Contract 4) overlaid on the 1st edition OS map .................................................................................................... 12 Figure 3: The route of the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road (Contract 4) overlaid on the RMP map .................................................................................................................. 13 Figure 4: Post-excavation plan of the site at Urraghry E2449 ................................................ 14 Figure 5: Early Mesolithic chert core preparation/rejuvenation flake. .................................... 15 Figure 6: Early Mesolithic chert single platform blade core E2249:3:2. ................................. 15 List of Plates Plate 1: Pre-excavation - facing north-west ............................................................................ 17 Plate 2: Section through mound (C.8), facing west ............................................................... 17 Plate 3: Post-excavation of trough (C.5) ................................................................................ 18 Plate 4: Post-excavation shot with palaeochannel (C.17) in the foreground and the trough (C.5) .......................................................................................................................... 18 Plate 5: Mesolithic core preparation/rejuvenation flake E2249:3:1 (Photo: John Sunderland) ..................................................................................................... 19 Plate 6: Profile of Mesolithic core preparation/rejuvenation flake E2249:3:1 (Photo: John Sunderland) ..................................................................................................... 19 Plate 7: Mesolithic single platform blade core E2449:3:2 (Photo: John Sunderland) ..............20 Plate 8: Medial fragment of a blade or flake E2449:3:3 (Photo: John Sunderland) ................20 Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2449-urraghry-co-galway/ iv E2449 | A024/36 Urraghry, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 i Summary The sites excavated at Urraghry E2449 comprised a burnt mound, trough, stake-holes a gully and a palaeochannel. Charcoal yielded an Early Bronze Age date, in common with material from other burnt mound sites nearby. This is one of five Bronze Age sites excavated along this portion of the new road. Early Mesolithic stone tools found at the site indicate that the area was also occupied at a much earlier date. Townland Urraghry Parish Clontuskert Barony Clonmacnowen County Galway Ministerial Order no. A024/36 E no. E2449 OS Map Sheet GA87 National Grid Reference 180424 228489 Elevation 60 m OD Site type Burnt mound ii Acknowledgements The excavation director was John Tierney and the fieldwork crew included Mick Drumm, Marcella Loughman, David Fallon, Lesley Davidson and Rafal Wolanski. Illustrations are by Ben Blakeman, Lesley Davidson, Enda O’Mahony and Robin Turk. Report compilation was by Anluan Dunne. Specialist analysis was carried out by Farina Sternke, Mary Dillon and the 14 Chrono Centre at Queen’s University Belfast. Artefact photographs were by John Sunderland. The project was commissioned by Galway County Council and was funded the National Roads Authority under the National Development Plan (2000-2006). The project archaeologist was Jerry O’Sullivan and the assistant project archaeologist was Martin Jones. Permalink: http://eachtra.ie/index.php/journal/e2449-urraghry-co-galway/ v E2449 | A024/36 Urraghry, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237 1. Introduction This report comprises the final excavation report for a burnt mound found at Urraghry, Co. Galway during archaeological testing within the lands acquired for the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe dual carriageway road scheme (O’Donoghue et al. 2006, Figure 1). The site comprised a burnt mound and trough with fifteen stake-holes, as well as a paleochannel and gully. Charcoal from the site yielded two Early Bronze Age radiocarbon dates. 2. Site Location, Topography and Soils The burnt mound was located within Urraghry townland at NGR 180424 228489. The site was located at the eastern edge of low lying reclaimed peatland (Plate 1), adjacent to a natural water course. The local soils were classified as grey brown podzolics, with associated brown earths, gleys and basin peat. These soils have a moderately wide use range and are good for cereal, fruit and vegetable cultivation (Gardiner & Radford 1980). The site is situated within a gently undulating glacial landscape used as open pastureland with isolated areas of peat. The solid bedrock is Middle to Upper Carboniferous Limestones, with Calp Limestones predominating in the area of this site. The Quaternary deposits in the region are undulating glacial drift with some post-glacial peat and alluvial deposits. Trial pit- ting for the Environmental Impact Assessment report indicated that the subsoil in the area of Urraghry was sandy till. 3. Background to the Development The excavation was undertaken by Eachtra Archaeological Projects for Galway County Council and the National Roads Authority and forms part of wider archaeological excavation programme undertaken by Eachtra within approximately 15 km of the proposed N6 Galway