EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Clare
Clonmoney West, Co. Clare
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure
Grid Ref: R43106231 (143104/162317)
SMR No: N/A
Excavation Licence: 01E0242
Excavation Duration/Year: March-April 2001
Site Director: D. Murphy (ACS Limited)
Topsoil stripping on a promontory overlooking the River Shannon in the townland of
Clonmoney West in advance of road works revealed evidence for a fourth- to seventh-century
deposit, an early/late medieval stone wall, two post-medieval field walls and undated burnt
spreads.
The stone wall stretched along the northern side of the site for a length of 30m and had an
average width of 2.2m. The wall overlay a silty-clay deposit containing charcoal, animal bone
and cremated bone. An eighth/ninth-century copper-alloy ring-pin and a polished stone axe
flake were recovered from the deposit, and radiocarbon dates from charcoal from this deposit
fell to the fourth and fifth century (see below). It could not be clearly established if the stone
wall was contemporary with this deposit. An incised rotary quernstone fragment, a roof tile,
an Anglo-Norman ‘Edward III’ coin and a whetstone were recovered from the wall. Some of
these finds are medieval in date and indicate that the wall could have been possibly
constructed or repaired in this period.
Linear features in the adjacent field may represent part of a settlement enclosure. The
character of the finds from the stone wall and the underlying deposit suggests that these
features may have had a domestic function. A number of hearths, pits, drainage ditches,
spreads, post- and stakeholes were also excavated close by in the same townland and
produced thirteenth to sixteenth century radiocarbon dates confirming late medieval activity
in this area.
Two spreads containing oxidized clay, small stones and charcoal were uncovered to the south
of the post-medieval walls, overlying the natural boulder clay. The spreads do not appear to
have been related to the post-medieval walls and may represent areas of burning.
A small quantity of animal bone fragments were recovered from the early medieval deposit
and overlying stone wall and comprised bone from cattle, sheep/goat, pig and horse with
some limited evidence for butchery marks.
(No plan was available for this site).
Radiocarbon Dates:
(PJ Reimer, MGL Baillie, E Bard, A Bayliss, JW Beck, C Bertrand, PG Blackwell, CE Buck, G Burr, KB Cutler, PE Damon,
RL Edwards, RG Fairbanks, M Friedrich, TP Guilderson, KA Hughen, B Kromer, FG McCormac, S Manning, C Bronk
Ramsey, RW Reimer, S Remmele, JR Southon, M Stuiver, S Talamo, FW Taylor, J van der Plicht, and CE
Weyhenmeyer (2004), Radiocarbon 46:1029-1058).
Sample No. Context
Beta-161999 Charcoal from silty brown
deposit underlying stone wall
14 C Date Cal. 2 Σ
1590±60 BP A.D. 337-602
Reference:
Murphy, D. & O’Neill, T. 2001. N18/N19 Ballycasey to Dromoland Road Improvement Scheme
Contract No. 2. Final Report on Archaeological Excavation of AR42A (Clonmoney West
townland). Unpublished report submitted to DoEHLG.
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