Archaeological Excavation Report E2445 - Mackney, Co. Galway Group of Bronze Age pits, post-holes and stake-holes Issue 2 [ISSN 2009-2237]
Jan 13, 2015
Archaeological Excavation ReportE2445 - Mackney, Co. Galway
Group of Bronze Age pits, post-holes and stake-holes
Issue 2 [ISSN 2009-2237]
Contact details:The Forge,Innishannon, Co. Cork.Tel.: 021 470 16 16Fax: 021 470 16 28E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.eachtra.ie
June 2009
Written by:
Client:
Archaeological Excavation Report,Mackney,Co. Galway
Group of Bronze Age pits, post-holes and stake-holes
Roads Design Office,Galway County Council
John Tierney
David FallonJohn Tierney
Licensee:
E2445E No.:
A024/32Ministerial Order:
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Table of Contents
i Summary ............................................................................................................ iv
ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................. iv
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 Hearth ...............................................................................................................4
5.2 Post-holes ...........................................................................................................5
5.3 Burnt soil spread ................................................................................................5
5.4 The pits ..............................................................................................................5
5.5 Isolated pits ........................................................................................................6
5.6 Lithics ................................................................................................................6
5.7 Charred plant remains .......................................................................................6
5.8 Charcoal ...........................................................................................................6
5.9 Radiocarbon dates ..............................................................................................7
6 Interpretation ......................................................................................................7
7 Bibliography ........................................................................................................9
7.1 Websites ............................................................................................................10
8 Figures ................................................................................................................11
9 Plates .................................................................................................................. 15
10 Appendices .........................................................................................................18
10.1 Appendix 1: Stratigraphic Register ...................................................................19
10.2 Appendix 2: Stratigraphic Matrix .....................................................................26
10.3 Appendix 3: Groups and sub-groups text .........................................................27
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10.4 Appendix 4: Lithics Finds Report for E2445 Mackney .....................................32
10.5 Appendix 5: Plant remains analysis .................................................................34
10.6 Appendix 6: Charcoal analysis ........................................................................36
Table of contents cont.
List of FiguresFigure 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: Figure 4: Post-excavation plan of the Bronze Age site at Mackney .......................... 14
List of PlatesPlate 1: Working shot of site, facing W ................................................................................ 15
Plate 2: Post-excavation of hearth (C001), facing NE ........................................................... 15
Plate 3: Post-excavation of Bronze Age rubbish pit (C019), facing N ................................... 16
Plate 4: Mid-excavation of stone-lined post hole (C034), showing in-situ lining, Facing E .. 16
Figure 5: Saddle quern from the fill of pit C.93 (E2445:92:1) Photo: John Sunderland. ........ 17
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i Summary
The site excavated at Mackney E2445 represented the remains of Middle to late Bronze Age occupation, with potential evidence for a structure made from timber uprights. The excavated features included a hearth, post-holes and pits. There were no artefacts from the site to com-plement the interpretation of the archaeological features. This is one of five sites dating to the Bronze Age that were found by Eachtra Archaeological Projects during work on Contract 4 of the N6 Galway to Ballinasloe new road. Their existence indicates widespread settlement in the area during the Bronze Age, with a potential focus of local activity in the catchment area of the river Suck.
Townland MackneyCivil Parish ClontuskertBarony ClonmacnowenCounty GalwayMinisterial Order no. A024/32 E no. E2445OS Map Sheet GA 87National Grid Reference 183704 229507Elevation 50 m ODSite type Bronze Age settlement
ii Acknowledgements
The excavation director was John Tierney and the senior supervisor was Mick Drumm. Field crew included Lesley Davidson, Joanna Pilszyk, Amanda Boechler, Rafal Wolanski and Luke Ryalls. 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 Mary Dillon, Farina Sternke and the 14 Chrono Centre at Queen’s University Belfast. The project was commissioned by Galway County Council and was funded the National Roads Author-ity under the National Development Plan (2000-2006). The project archaeologist was Jerry O’Sullivan and the assistant project archaeologist was Martin Jones.
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1 Introduction
This report comprises the final excavation report for a prehistoric settlement site found at Mackney, 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 large hearth, a spread of burnt soil, 13 pits and five post-holes. Charcoal from the site yielded two Middle to Late Bronze Age radiocarbon dates.
2 Site Location, Topography and Soils
The site was located in the townland of Mackney at NGR 183704 229507 on the western outskirts of modern day Ballinsaloe. The site is situated within a gently undulating glacial landscape overlooking the valley of the River Suck c. 4 km to the east. The land is used as open pastureland and there are 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 pitting for the Environmental Impact Assessment report indicated that the subsoil in the area of this site at Mackney was sandy till.
Much of the site was located in land that was relatively low-lying and prone to flooding (Plate 1). It was located on soils 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). At the time of excavation the land was in pasture enclosed by drystone field boundaries of 18th or 19th century date.
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 to Ballinasloe dual carriageway scheme (Contract 4, Figures 1-3).
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4 Archaeological and Historical Background
4.1 Prehistoric period
Mesolithic material has now been identified from a small number of sites in western Con-nacht and in particular material has been identified on the major river and lake systems. Lough Corrib stands out as a centre of outstanding importance for looking at both Mesolith-ic settlement and the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition (Gibbons et al. 2004). The artefactual location bias suggests that the Lough Corrib catchment area was a population centre in the later Mesolithic period. The finding of a Bann flake at Oranmore confirms that there was a human presence to the east of the Corrib in the late Mesolithic. No definite Mesolithc site has as yet been identified in east Galway but there are flint artefacts that probably date to the Mesolithic from burnt mound sites excavated by Eachtra Archaeological Projects at Barnac-ragh (E2446) and Urraghry (E2449).
The Neolithic or new stone age began around 4000 BC when the first farmers came in search of pasture for their livestock and arable land in which to grow their grain. Ireland was then heavily forested so it was necessary for these farmers to engage in forest clearance. This they did with polished stone axeheads hafted in wooden handles. A number of stone axes have been recovered from along the valley of the river Suck and around the Ballinasloe area in general (Henry 1992, 37-38), indicating activity in the area during the Neolithic.
The Neolithic period also saw new developments in ritual activity, in particular the build-ing of megalithic tombs. Only seven Neolithic tombs are recorded for the whole of north Galway (as defined by Vol 2 of the Archaeological inventory of Co. Galway), which includes the barony of Clonmacowen, and these are limited to court tombs and wedge tombs (Alcock et al. 1999, 1). There is no published inventory for south Galway. No megalithic tombs are recorded from the area around Balinasloe and Aughrim; the closest concentration is a group of four tombs identified around the limestone plains of Monivea.
The erection of large more or less unhewn stones, often in prominent locations, was a wide-spread custom in prehistoric Ireland and elsewhere in western Europe. These take the form of stone circles, stone rows, stone pairs and single or isolated standing stones. Single standing stones may have had a wide variety of uses ranging from route or boundary markers to burial memorials. Two standing stones (RMP GA098:031 and GA087:023) are located around Aughrim, one of which is reputed to be associated with a stone axehead (Alcock et al. 1999,
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17).
During the Bronze Age metal was extracted and worked for the first time. Bronze Age axes and a dagger have been found in the area round Ballinasloe and a bronze spear head (NMI 1986:19) and dirk (NMI 1986:16) were recovered from the river Suck during drainage opera-tions in the 1880s (information from the National Museum of Ireland Topographical files). Underwater investigation of the site of Correen Ford, on the river Suck, identified a Late Bronze Age sword which was found close to a portion of a pottery vessel, perhaps of the same age (Kelly 1989). Coreen Ford was probably one of the main crossing points on the Suck in prehistory and early history.
A variety of burial monuments date to the Bronze Age period, including cairns, tumuli and barrows. A cairn is a mound of stone often used to cover burials, and a tumulus is a mound of earth used for the same purpose. Barrows are burial monuments which usually consist of a circular central area, which may be flat or slightly dished (a ring ditch), or domed (a ring barrow), and which is enclosed by a ditch and occasionally by an external bank. Excavated Bronze Age burials include interments in cists, in pits lined with stone flags, and in simple pits, some of which were accompanied by pottery or other grave goods. These can be placed in tumuli, cairns or barrows, but can also be set within ‘natural’ monuments, such as sand ridges, or can appear in flat cemeteries, with no above ground marker at all (Waddell 1990, 1).
A total of 22 cairns and tumuli, 10 isolated cist and pit graves and 31 barrows are known from north Galway (Alcock et al. 1999, 4 & 12). A significant concentration of Early Bronze Age features can be recognised in the area between Athenry, Tuam and Headford; however, very few burials or cairns have been identified in the areas around Ballinasloe and Aughrim.
The most common Bronze Age monuments are burnt mounds. They are represented by small mounds of burnt stone, which were fired in order to heat water in a pit dug into a marshy area, the stones being discarded once they had cooled. The function of these monuments has been the source of much debate with various theories being expounded including cooking, washing and relaxation. Three burnt mounds have been excavated by Eachtra Archaeologi-cal Projects during the course of the present excavation programme: at Barnacragh (E2446), Cooltymurraghy (E2448) and Urraghry (E2449). Bronze Age dates were retrieved from a possible settlement site in Mackney townland (E2443) and this present site, again in Mack-
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ney townland (E2445), also revealed evidence associated with Bronze Age settlement. These are important additions to the recorded prehistoric landscape in east Galway.
We know almost nothing of Irish Iron Age settlement and burial outside the major complexes of royal ritual sites and a small number of burial sites that may be Iron Age in date. Deficien-cies in our knowledge of the settlements and habitations of ordinary people are so marked that Raftery referred to the majority of the population as the ‘invisible people’ (1994, 112). The majority of the evidence for the Iron Age period consists of finds of La Tène decorated metalwork and some pieces of stone sculpture. Examples of La Tène artefacts/monuments from east Galway include the Turoe Stone located close to Loughrea and a Late La Tène metal artefact found at. Rahally hillfort. This hillfort was excavated along the route of the new N6 Galway to Ballinalsoe road (Contract 3) and the evidence indicates settlement in prehistoric and medieval times (Mullins in progress). Iron Age radiocarbon dates were ob-tained from excavations at an enclosure site at Loughbown 2, also excavated along the route of the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road (Contract 4). However, medieval dates were also obtained from Loughbown 2 and the exact nature of occupation at the site during the Iron Age is uncertain.
5 Results of Excavation
This site comprised a large hearth, a spread of burnt soil, 13 pits, three large stone-lined post-holes and two smaller post-holes. These were found within an area of excavation that measured 571 sq m (Figure 4). An un-stratified chert chunk was originally interpreted as an artefact but specialist examination indicated that it was natural. There were no artefacts from the site. Archaeological activity was concentrated to the west, north-west and south-west of the large hearth. Detailed results are available in the context register (Appendix 1), the stratigraphic matrix (Appendix 2), the groups and sub-groups text (Appendix 3), the finds register (Appendix 4) and specialist results (Appendices 5-7). The following is an interpreta-tive summary.
5.1 Hearth
The hearth (C.1) was found within a large pit that measured 2.5 m long, 2.0 m wide and 0.45 m deep (Plate 2). It had moderately sloping sides and a shallow concave base. The basal
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fill (C.79) was confined to the eastern half of the pit and was overlain by a charcoal-flecked deposit (C.71) that was 0.1 m deep. The main fill (C.2) was 0.2 m deep and it contained oc-casional charcoal flecks. Hazel charcoal from this context yielded a Middle to Late Bronze Age radiocarbon date of cal BC 1117-915 (UB-7355). There was evidence for in situ scorching of the edges of the pit.
5.2 Post-holes
A total of five post-holes (C.5, C.34, C.39, C.42 and C.49) were found in the area around the hearth. On average these measured 0.73 m long, 0.55 m wide and 0.24 m deep. There was evidence for stone packing in three of the post-holes; C.34, C.39 and C.42 (see Plate 4). The fact that stone packing was still in place indicates that these posts must have rotted in situ, as removal of the posts would have disturbed the packing. Three post-holes (C.5, C.42 and C.34) were positioned in a straight line to the south-west of the hearth. These may form the partial remains of a wall or structure that surrounded or shielded the hearth.
5.3 Burnt soil spread
A spread of burnt soil (C.12/C.83) was found 2.5 m to the west of the hearth, outside the line of post-holes. It was characterized by evidence for scorching, a concentration of charcoal flecks and very small fragments of burnt stone. This was interpreted as hearth rake-out and it measured 4.4 m north to south and 2.6 m east to west.
5.4 The pits
A total of 10 pits (C.3, C.13, C.15, C.17, C.19, C.32, C.39, C.47, C.49 and C.90) were found in the area around the hearth (see Plate 3 for an example). On average these measured 1.07 m long, 0.87 m wide and 0.35 m deep. There were no finds from these pits and there was little indication of their original use. The fill of one of the pits (pit C.13, fill C.14) produced hazel charcoal which yielded a Middle to Late Bronze Age radiocarbon date cal BC 1114-919 (UB-7356), demonstrating that use of the pits was contemporary with use of the hearth.
Some of the pits may represent disturbed post-holes. For example the pits C.3 and C.32 were found along the same line as the post-holes by the hearth (C.5, C.34 and C.42) and they may have formed part of a wall or structure.
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Three pits (C.39, C.49 and C.90) were found in close proximity to the hearth. These may also have originally been post-holes, perhaps acting as internal supports in a structure. Alterna-tively, they may simply represent hearth furniture.
There were five external pits (C.13, C.15, C.17, C.19 and C.47) located c. 1 m outside the wall, to the south-west. These may have been associated with any external activities arising during occupation of the possible structure. Two of the pits (C.13 and C.19) cut the occupa-tion surface (C.12/C.83).
5.5 Isolated pits
A total of three pits (C.85, C.86 and C.88) were located in the north-west corner, c. 5 m from the main area of activity. There was no evidence for a relationship between these pits and the other archaeological features discovered at the site. The function of these pits is obscure, although the retrieval of 100% oak charcoal from one of the pits (C.88) suggests that this is the remains of an oak post that burnt in situ (see Appendix 7).
5.6 Lithics
One lithic find from the site was examined by Farina Sternke (Appendix 5). Although origi-nally interpreted as a flint blade, this was in fact one natural chunk of chert, retrieved from the topsoil, and of no archaeological significance. A stone fragment identified as part of a saddle quern was also retrieved (Plate 5).
5.7 Charred plant remains
A total of 29 samples from this site were examined by Mary Dillon (Appendix 6). Only one sample produced charred plant remains, an indeterminate nut shell fragment.
5.8 Charcoal
Charcoal from this site was identified by Mary Dillon (Appendix 7). A total of 10 samples were examined and the most frequent charcoal type was oak followed in descending fre-
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quency by hazel, apple type, ash, sloe/cherry/plum, alder, yew and willow/aspen.
5.9 Radiocarbon dates
Radiocarbon analysis was carried out by the 14 Chrono Centre in Queen’s University Belfast. Dates were calibrated using Calib Rev5.0.2 (©1986-2005 M. Stuiver & P.J. Reimer) and in conjunction with Stuiver & Reimer 1993 and using calibration data set Intcal04.14c (Reimer et al. 2004).
Lab. code
Context Sample Material (charcoal)
Years BP δ 13 C
1 sigma calibrated date
2 sigma calibrated date
Period
UB-7355
2 (hearth) 27 Hazel, 7 frags, 0.58g
2842 ±35 BP
-27.0cal BC1048-971960-934
cal BC 1117-915
Middle - Late Bronze Age
UB-7356
14 (pit) 16 Hazel, 22 frags, 1.8g
2844 ± 32 BP
-25.0cal BC1048-972959-937
cal BC 1114-919
Middle - Late Bronze Age
6 Interpretation
This site comprised a cluster of prehistoric features, including a hearth, a burnt soil spread, pits and post-holes. The features represented the partial remains of a Bronze Age occupation site. A line of posts (C.5, C.42 and C.34) may have formed a wall and another two pits (C.3 and C.32) also found along this line may represent disturbed post-holes. If these features formed part of a wall they were located c. 1 m from the edge of the hearth. It is possible that the structural features around the hearth represent the partial remains of a building and radi-ocarbon dates indicate a period of occupation in the Middle to Late Bronze Age. As the post-holes are set in a straight line it appears that they could form part of a rectangular building. This is relatively unusual because circular structures were the norm by the Middle Bronze Age (Doody 2000, 137; Doody 2007, 91). However, some examples of rectilinear houses are known and Doody (2007, 92) estimates that these account for 16% of the excavated Middle Bronze Age house sites. Alternatively, the features define a roughly circular occupation space, and this is a more common floor plan for domestic structures in the Irish Bronze Age. The enclosing elements may not have survived because they did not cut the subsoil. For example, they could have been made from sod or from canvas.
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Recent excavations along the new N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road (Contracts 1-4) indicate that Bronze Age activity in the area was widespread. Burnt mounds were found in all sectors of the new road, but ritual sites such as cremations and burials were only found in the middle sectors of the road (including Newford, Deerpark, Curragh More, Carrowkeel, Ballykeeran, Cross, Rathglass, Treanbaun I and Treanbaun III). Evidence for domestic occupation was rare and this site at Mackney E2445 is one of the few examples. In this respect the pattern from the N6 Galway to Ballinasloe mirrors the general record of the Irish Bronze Age, where ritual sites are more widely recognised than domestic sites (Doody 2007, 97). There are rela-tively few excavated Bronze Age occupation sites in County Galway. A search of the online excavations database for 1970-2003 (www.excavations.ie) revealed a few potential sites such as the two Bronze Age midden sites excavated at Omey Island and False Bay, Truska, stone remains of structures possibly dating to the Early Bronze Age at Lettershea and Late Bronze Age stone hut sites excavated at Dún Aonghasa. The excavations database suggests therefore that Mackney E2445 is the first record of a Bronze Age building made from timber uprights in the county.
This site is one of five Bronze Age sites excavated by Eachtra Archaeological Projects within 6.5 km along the route of the new road covered by Contract 4. These included burnt mound sites at Urraghry, Cooltymurraghy and Barnacragh and another site with ephemeral traces of Bronze Age occupation at Mackney E2443. These sites are broadly within the catchment zone of the river Suck and they indicate widespread use of this part of the landscape during the Bronze Age.
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7 Bibliography
Alcock, O., de hOra, K. and Gosling, P. 1999 Archaeological Inventory of County Galway, Vol. 2 North Galway. Dublin, The Stationery Office.
Bennett, I. (ed.) 2006 Excavations 2003. Bray, Wordwell.
Doody, M. 2007 Excavations at Curraghatoor, Co. Tipperary. Cork, UCC Department of Archaeology Archaeological Monograph.
Doody, M. 2000 Bronze Age houses in Ireland, in Desmond, A., Johnson, G., McCarthy, M., Sheehan, J. and Shee Twohig, E. New Agendas in Irish Prehistory. Bray, Wordwell.
Gardiner, M.J. and Radford, T. 1980 Soil Associations of Ireland and Their Land Use Potential. Dublin, An Foras Talúntais.
Gibbons, M., Gibbons, M. and Higgins, J. 2004 Mapping the Mesolithic in western Connacht, IQUA Newsletter 32, 4-7.
Henry, M. 1992 Prehistoric Life in Co. Galway: A Distributional Analysis, Journal of the Galway Hist and Archaeol Society, Vol. 44 (1992), 29-46.
Kelly, E.P. 1989 Ford, in Bennett, I. (ed.) Excavations 1989. Bray, Wordwell.
Mullins, G. In progress Rahally, in Bennett, I. (ed.) Excavations 2006.
O’Donoghue, J., Tierney, J. and Doolan, A. 2006 N6 Galway to Ballinasloe test excavations report, Centreline testing 4.0, Contract 4 Cloghagalla Eighter Co. Galway to Beagh, Co. Roscommon. Unpublished report for Eachtra Archaeological Projects submitted to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Raftery, B. 1994 Pagan Celtic Ireland: the enigma of the Irish Iron Age. London, Thames and Hudson.
Reimer, P.J., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J.W., Bertrand, C., Blackwell, P.G., Buck, C.E., Burr, G., Cutler, K.B., Damon, P.E., Edwards, R.L., Fairbanks, R.G., Friedrich, M., Guilderson, T.P., Hughen, K.A., Kromer, B., McCormac, F.G., Manning, S., Bronk Ramsey, C., Reimer, R.W., Remmele, S., Southon, J.R., Stuiver, M., Talamo, S., Taylor, F.W., van der Plicht, J. and Weyhenmeyer, C.E. 2004
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IntCal04 Terrestrial Radiocarbon Age Calibration, 0–26 Cal Kyr BP, Radiocarbon 46, 1029-1058.
Waddell, J. 1990 The Bronze Age Burials of Ireland. Galway.
Stuiver, M., and Reimer, P.J. 1993 Extended (super 14) C data base and revised CALIB 3.0 (super 14) C age calibration program, Radiocarbon 35, 215-230.
7.1 Websites
Database of Irish excavations www.excavations.ie
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10M
ackn
eyR
ing
fort
wit
h s
kele
tal r
emai
ns
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
12
Figu
re 2
: The
rout
e of
the
new
N6
Gal
way
to B
allin
aslo
e ro
ad (C
ontr
act 4
) ove
rlai
d on
the
1st
edi
tion
OS
map
E24
48 A
024/
35
Coo
ltym
urra
ghy
Bu
rnt
mo
un
d
E24
47 A
024/
34
Coo
lolla
Lim
e ki
ln &
forg
e
E24
49 A
024/
36U
rrag
hyB
urn
t m
ou
nd
E24
42 A
024/
09Lo
ughb
own
IR
ing
fort
& f
org
e
E24
46 A
024/
33B
arna
crag
hB
urn
t m
ou
nd
E20
54 A
024/
21Lo
ughb
own
IIR
ing
fort
E24
45 A
024/
32M
ackn
eyPi
ts
E24
43 A
024/
31M
ackn
eyPi
ts &
dit
ches
E24
44 A
024/
10M
ackn
eyR
ing
fort
wit
h s
kele
tal r
emai
ns
Sto
ne G
roup
/Insc
ibed
Sto
ne
Togh
er
Can
al
Bur
ial G
roun
d/G
rave
yard
Folly
Fiel
d sy
stem
Ear
thw
ork
Ecc
lesi
astic
al S
ite/H
oly
wel
lC
astle
/Tow
er
Enc
losu
reM
otte
Mon
umen
t
Rin
gfor
t
Lege
nd
0 K
m2
Km
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
13
Figu
re 3
: The
rout
e of
the
new
N6
Gal
way
to B
allin
aslo
e ro
ad (C
ontr
act 4
) ove
rlai
d on
the
RM
P m
ap
C.8
8
C.8
5C
.86
C.3
4
C.3
2
C.4
2
C.1
3
C.1
9C
.90
C.1
5
C.3
9
C.1
C.5
C.4
9
Lim
it of
ex
cava
tion
C.1
7C.3
C.9
3
Key
Pit
Post
-ho
le
Hea
rth
Bu
rnt
Soil
Spre
ad0
5 m
1 m
N
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
14
Figu
re 4
: Fig
ure
4: P
ost-
exca
vati
on p
lan
of t
he B
ronz
e A
ge si
te a
t Mac
kney
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
15
Plate 1: Working shot of site, facing W
Plate 2: Post-excavation of hearth (C001), facing NE
9 Plates
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
16
Plate 3: Post-excavation of Bronze Age rubbish pit (C019), facing N
Plate 4: Mid-excavation of stone-lined post hole (C034), showing in-situ lining, Facing E
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
17
Figure 5: Saddle quern from the fill of pit C.93 (E2445:92:1) Photo: John Sunderland.
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
18
10 Appendices
Appendix 1 Stratigraphic index
Appendix 2 Stratigraphic matrix
Appendix 3 Groups and sub groups text
Appendix 4 Lithics report
Appendix 5 Plant remains
Appendix 6 Charcoal
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
19
Con
text
N
o.G
ridC
onte
xt
type
Fill
of…
Fille
d w
ith…
Basic
Des
crip
tion
Find
s no.
Sam
ple
No.
Dra
win
g N
o.
001
110/
105
Hea
rth
-00
2H
eart
h, ir
regu
lar s
hape
in p
lan,
shal
low
con
cave
pro
file,
2.5
0m
N/S
by
2.0m
by
0.41
m00
211
0/10
5H
eart
h de
posit
001
-Fi
ll of
hea
rth
[001
]mid
gre
y br
own
clay
silt.
Occ
asio
nal s
ub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b -r
ound
ed st
ones
and
mod
erat
e m
ediu
m p
eb-
bles
, 2.0
m N
/S b
y 1.
81m
by
0.19
m
027
003
110/
105
Pit
-00
4, 0
25Pi
t [00
3], U
-sha
ped
prof
ile, c
ircul
ar in
pla
n, 0
.48m
N/S
by
0.44
m b
y 0.
12m
00
411
0/10
5Pi
t fill
003
-Fi
ll of
pit
[003
]fria
ble
blac
k cl
ay si
lt 30
70
-- d
ump
of b
urnt
m
ater
ial,
0.48
m N
/S b
y 0.
35m
by
0.07
m00
1
005
110/
100
Post-
hole
-00
6, 0
54
= 05
7,
055=
056
Cut
of p
ost-h
ole
[005
], sq
uare
U-S
hape
d pr
ofile
--ov
er c
ut
sligh
tly so
pro
babl
y a
shal
low
con
cave
, rec
tang
ular
with
roun
d-ed
cor
ners
in p
lan,
0.8
2m N
/S b
y 0.
56m
by
0.20
m00
611
0/10
0Po
st-ho
le
fill
005
-Fi
ll of
pos
t-hol
e [0
05] f
riabl
e da
rk g
reyi
sh b
lack
cla
y sil
t occ
a-sio
nal s
ub-r
ound
ed m
ediu
m st
ones
mod
erat
e sm
all s
ub-a
ngul
ar
stone
s occ
asio
nal f
ragm
ents
of b
urnt
ston
e oc
casio
nal f
ragm
ents
of
pot
tery
0.8
2m E
/W b
y 0.
42m
by
0.04
m
E244
5:6:
1 po
tter
y sh
erd
009,
010
, 01
1
007
VO
ID00
8V
OID
009
Exte
nsiv
eTo
p so
il-
-To
p So
il, m
id b
row
n cl
ay si
lt 30
70
E244
5:9:
1 na
tura
l ch
ert c
hunk
010
Exte
nsiv
eSu
bsoi
l-
-Su
bsoi
l, w
hitis
h ye
llow
sand
y cl
ay 4
0 60
011
VO
ID01
210
5/10
5O
ccu-
patio
n su
rfac
e
011
-Su
rfac
e--a
con
cent
ratio
n of
cha
rcoa
l fle
cks a
nd v
ery
smal
l fr
agm
ents
of b
urnt
ston
e 01
2 w
ithin
a m
id re
d br
own
sand
silt
40 6
0 de
posit
083
ther
e w
as so
me
scor
chin
g of
the
natu
ral t
oo.
Prob
ably
a su
b so
il bu
t pos
sibly
a p
rehi
storic
act
ivity
hor
izon
--c
ut b
y [0
13] a
nd[0
19],
1.28
m N
/S b
y 1.
12m
by
0.06
m, 0
12 =
08
3
003
10.1
Ap
pend
ix 1:
Stra
tigra
phic
Reg
ister
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
20
Con
text
N
o.G
ridC
onte
xt
type
Fill
of…
Fille
d w
ith…
Basic
Des
crip
tion
Find
s no.
Sam
ple
No.
Dra
win
g N
o.
013
105/
105,
10
5/11
0Pi
t-
014
Cut
of p
it [0
13],
U-s
hape
d pr
ofile
with
con
cave
bas
e, c
ircul
ar in
pl
an, 1
.60m
E/W
by
1.00
by
0.78
m
014
105/
105,
10
5/11
0Pi
t fill
013
-Fi
ll of
pit
[013
], so
ft m
id re
d br
own
clay
silt
30 7
0, 1
.60m
E/W
by
1.0
0m b
y 0.
78m
016,
019
, 03
401
510
5/10
0Pi
t-
016
Cut
of p
it [0
15],
shal
low
con
cave
pro
file-
-trun
cate
d th
roug
h th
e ce
ntre
by
an a
nim
al b
urro
w, su
b-ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n, 1
.20m
N/S
by
1.10
m b
y 0.
16m
[015
] = [0
17]
016
105/
100
Pit f
ill01
5=01
7-
Fill
of p
it [0
15] =
[017
] sof
t dar
k gr
eyish
bla
ck c
lay
silt 4
0 60
, 1.
20m
N/S
by
1.10
m b
y 0.
16m
, 01
6 =
018
023
017
105/
100
Pit
-01
8, 0
28C
ut o
f pit
[015
], sh
allo
w c
onca
ve p
rofil
e--tr
unca
ted
thro
ugh
the
cent
re b
y an
ani
mal
bur
row,
sub-
circ
ular
in p
lan,
1.2
0m N
/S b
y 1.
10m
by
0.16
m [0
15] =
[017
]01
810
5/10
0Pi
t fill
015=
017
-Fi
ll of
pit
[015
] = [0
17] s
oft d
ark
grey
ish b
lack
cla
y sil
t 40
60,
1.20
m N
/S b
y 1.
10m
by
0.16
m,
016
= 01
800
2
019
105/
105
Pit
-02
0, 0
44,
045,
046,
05
1, 0
53
Cut
of p
it [0
19] s
quar
e U
-sha
ped
prof
ile, c
ircul
ar in
pla
n, 1
.10m
E/
W b
y 1.
02m
by
0.64
m. C
ut b
y po
stho
le [0
29]
020
105/
105
Pit f
ill01
9-
Fill
of p
it [0
19]fr
iabl
e da
rk re
ddish
bro
wn
sand
cla
y, 1.
10m
E/W
by
1.0
2 m
E/W
by
1.02
m b
y 0.
22m
, 020
= 0
5100
4
021
VO
ID02
2V
OID
023
VO
ID02
511
0/10
5Pi
t fill
003
-Ba
sal f
ill p
uddl
ing?
of [
003]
fria
ble
mid
gre
yish
bla
ck sa
ndy
silt
30 7
0, 0
.48m
N/S
by
0.44
m b
y 0.
05m
026
100/
115
Hea
rth
pit
fill
085
-Fi
ll of
pit
poss
ible
hea
rth
[085
]/Spr
ead
of sc
orch
ed fi
ll of
pit
[085
] sof
t dar
k re
d br
own
clay
silt
40 6
0 m
oder
ate
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar s
tone
s, 1.
57 m
N/S
by
0.58
m b
y 0.
28m
032
027
95/1
10,
95/1
15Pi
t fill
088
-ar
ea o
f con
cent
rate
d bu
rnin
g de
bris
fill o
f [08
8], s
oft m
id g
rey
brow
n cl
ay si
lt 25
75
occa
siona
l med
ium
(lim
e?) s
tone
freq
uent
ch
arco
al fl
ecks
and
med
ium
cha
rcoa
l fra
gmen
ts, 1
.18m
E/W
by
1.03
m b
y 0.
26m
031
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
21
Con
text
N
o.G
ridC
onte
xt
type
Fill
of…
Fille
d w
ith…
Basic
Des
crip
tion
Find
s no.
Sam
ple
No.
Dra
win
g N
o.
028
105/
100
Pit f
ill01
7-
basa
l fill
of [
017]
029
105/
105
Post-
hole
-03
0Po
st-ho
le [0
29] u
-sha
ped
prof
ile, c
ircul
ar in
pla
n, 0
.24m
N/S
by
0.24
m b
y 0.
08m
. Cut
upp
er fi
ll of
pit
[019
]03
010
5/10
5Po
st-ho
le
fill
029
-Fi
ll of
pos
thol
e [0
29] f
irm m
id g
reyi
sh w
hite
cla
y sil
t 40
60--
freq
uent
larg
e an
gula
r sto
nes,
0.24
m N
/S b
y 0.
24m
by
0.08
m00
5
031
VO
ID03
211
0/11
0Pi
t-
033
Cut
of p
it [0
32] v
ery
shal
low
squa
re U
-sha
ped
prof
ile su
b-ci
rcu-
lar i
n pl
an,1
.23m
N/S
by
0.82
m b
y 0.
2303
311
0/11
0Pi
t fill
032
-Fi
ll of
pit
[032
], fr
iabl
e m
id g
rey
blac
k sil
t cla
y oc
casio
nal s
ub-
angu
lar s
tone
s, 1.
23m
N/S
by
0.82
m b
y 0.
15m
03
411
0/11
0Po
st-ho
le-
035,
036
Cut
of p
ost h
ole
[034
] squ
are
u-sh
aped
pro
file,
sub-
circ
ular
in
plan
, 0.8
2m E
/W b
y 0.
60m
by
0.35
m03
511
0/11
0Po
st-ho
le
stone
pa
ckin
g
034
-St
one
pack
ing
for a
pos
t hol
e [0
34],
freq
uent
sub-
roun
ded
stone
s, la
rges
t sto
ne a
ppro
x 0.
45m
,
036
110/
110
Post-
hole
fil
l03
4-
Fill
of p
ost h
ole
[034
], so
ft da
rk b
lack
bro
wn
silt c
lay
30 7
0,
0.85
m E
/W b
y 0.
72m
by
0.29
m03
711
0/11
0Po
st-ho
le-
038,
080
Cut
of p
ost h
ole
[037
] con
cave
in p
rofil
e, c
ircul
ar in
pla
n, 0
.18m
N
/S b
y 0.
12m
0.0
8m03
811
0/11
0Po
st-ho
le
fill
-02
7To
p fil
l of p
ost h
ole
[037
], D
ark
grey
ish b
lack
fria
ble
clay
ey si
lt,
0.18
m N
/S b
y 0.
12m
by
0.08
m02
8
039
110/
110,
11
5/11
0Po
st-ho
le04
0, 0
41C
ut o
f pos
t hol
e [0
39] s
quar
e w
ith v
ertic
al e
dges
, sub
-circ
ular
in
plan
, 0.8
0m E
/W b
y 0.
51m
by
0.20
m04
011
0/11
0,
115/
110
Post-
hole
sto
ne
pack
ing
039
Ston
e pa
ckin
g fo
r pos
t[039
]
041
110/
110,
11
5/11
0Po
st-ho
le
fill
039
Fill
of st
one
lined
pos
t hol
e [0
39],
mid
bro
wni
sh o
rang
e fr
iabl
e cl
ayey
silt
with
occ
asio
nal s
ub-a
ngul
ar st
ones
, 0.9
0m E
/W b
y 0.
70m
by
0.40
m04
210
5/11
0,
110/
110
Post-
hole
Cut
of p
ost h
ole
[042
] u-s
hape
d pr
ofile
, circ
ular
in p
lan,
0.8
0m
E/W
0.7
3m b
y 0.
28m
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
22
Con
text
N
o.G
ridC
onte
xt
type
Fill
of…
Fille
d w
ith…
Basic
Des
crip
tion
Find
s no.
Sam
ple
No.
Dra
win
g N
o.
043
105/
110,
11
0/11
0Po
st-ho
le
fill
084
Fill
of p
ost h
ole
[084
] ver
y so
ft da
rk b
row
nish
bla
ck c
lay
silt--
resu
lt of
pos
t bur
ning
in-s
itu?,
0.58
m N
/S b
y 0.
50m
by
0.14
m00
8
044
105/
105
Pit f
ill01
9Fi
ll of
pit
[019
] ver
y so
ft lig
ht b
row
nish
yel
low
cla
y--s
econ
dary
fil
l hig
h w
ater
con
tent
, 110
m E
/W b
y 1.
03m
by
0.40
mE2
445:
44:1
po
tter
y01
3
045
105/
105
Pit f
ill01
9Le
ns o
f cha
rcoa
l ric
h bu
rnt m
ater
ial f
ound
in p
it [0
19]v
ery
soft
blac
k cl
ay si
lt, 0
.20m
N/S
by
0.17
m. b
y 0.
10m
006
046
105/
100
Pit f
ill01
9Le
ns o
f cha
rcoa
l ric
h bu
rnt m
ater
ial f
ound
in p
it [0
19]v
ery
soft
blac
k cl
ay si
lt, 0
.14m
N/S
by
0.10
m. b
y 0.
7m00
7
047
105/
100
Pit
048,
078
Cut
of p
it [0
47] c
onca
ve in
pro
file,
sub-
circ
ular
in p
lan,
trun
-ca
ted
by p
its [0
15] a
nd [0
17]0
.70
N/S
by
0.62
m b
y 0.
36m
04
8-
Pit f
ill04
7Fi
ll of
pit
[048
] lig
ht g
reyi
sh w
hite
stiff
fria
ble
clay
ey si
lt, 0
.70m
N
/S b
y 0.
62m
by
0.36
m
014,
017
049
-Po
st-ho
le05
0C
ut o
f pos
t hol
e [0
49] c
onca
ve p
rofil
e, c
ircul
ar in
pla
n, t
run-
cate
d by
[074
], 0.
40m
N/S
by
0.35
m b
y 0.
15m
050
105/
105
Post-
hole
fil
l04
9Fi
ll of
pos
t hol
e [0
49] f
riabl
e m
id g
rey
blac
k sa
nd si
lt 40
60,
0.
40m
N/S
by
0.40
m b
y 0.
03m
024
051
110/
105
Pit f
ill01
9Fi
ll of
pit
[019
]fria
ble
dark
redd
ish b
row
n sa
nd c
lay,
1.10
m E
/W
by 1
.02m
by
0.22
m, 0
20 =
051
053
110/
100
Pit f
ill01
9Ba
sal f
ill o
f [01
9] fr
iabl
e m
id g
reyi
sh c
lay
silt,
1.10
m E
/W b
y 1.
02m
by
0.10
m01
5
054
110/
100
Post-
hole
fil
l00
5Ba
ckfil
l of p
ost-h
ole
[005
] sof
t mid
bro
wn
oran
ge c
lay
silt o
c-ca
siona
l sm
all s
ub-a
ngul
ar a
nd m
ediu
m su
b-ro
unde
d sto
nes,
0.47
m E
/W b
y 0.
46m
by
0.18
m
011
055
110/
100
Post-
hole
fil
l00
5Pr
imar
y fil
l of p
ost h
ole
[005
] ver
y so
ft m
id b
row
n or
ange
sand
sil
t, 0.
54m
N/S
by
0.45
m b
y 0.
13m
055
=056
056
110/
100
Post-
hole
fil
l00
5Pr
imar
y fil
l of p
ost h
ole
[005
] ver
y so
ft m
id b
row
n or
ange
sand
sil
t, 0.
81m
E/W
by
0.06
m b
y 0.
01m
, 055
=056
057
110/
100
Post-
hole
fil
l00
5Se
cond
ary
fill o
f pos
t hol
e [0
05]so
ft m
id b
row
nish
ora
nge
clay
sil
t occ
asio
nal s
mal
l to
med
ium
sub-
roun
ded
stone
s, 0.
81m
E/
W b
y 0.
09m
by
0.13
m
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
23
Con
text
N
o.G
ridC
onte
xt
type
Fill
of…
Fille
d w
ith…
Basic
Des
crip
tion
Find
s no.
Sam
ple
No.
Dra
win
g N
o.
059
110/
100
Post-
pipe
fil
lFi
ll of
pos
sible
pos
t pip
e [0
89],
light
gre
yish
whi
te st
iff si
lty c
lay
with
freq
uent
sub-
roun
ded
stone
s, m
oder
atel
y so
rted
, 0.8
1m
E/W
by
0.17
m b
y 0.
19 m
, 059
=006
060
110/
105
Poss
ible
su
rfac
e-
-po
ssib
le m
etal
led
surf
ace
061
VO
ID06
2V
OID
063
VO
ID06
4V
OID
065
105/
110,
11
0/11
0Po
st-ho
le
stone
pad
042
Poss
ible
ston
e po
st p
ad o
f pos
t hol
e [0
42],
0.36
m E
/W b
y 0.
22
m b
y 0.
20m
066
105/
110,
11
0/11
0Po
st-ho
le
fill
042
Post
pac
king
of p
ost h
ole
[042
] med
ium
peb
bles
, 0.6
8m E
/W
by 0
.30m
by
0.17
m06
710
5/11
0,
110/
110
Post-
hole
sto
ne p
ad04
2Po
ssib
le p
ost p
ad a
t bas
e of
pos
t-pip
e fo
r pos
t hol
e [0
42] m
e-di
um su
b-an
gula
r sto
ne, 0
.10M
N/S
by
?m b
y 0.
06m
068
105/
110,
11
0/11
0Po
st-ho
le
fill
042
Back
fill o
f pos
t hol
e [0
42] s
oft m
id y
ello
w b
row
n cl
ay si
lt 30
70,
0.
80m
E/W
0.5
5m b
y 0.
10m
06
910
5/11
0,
110/
110
Post-
hole
fil
l04
2Pr
imar
y fil
l of p
ost h
ole
[042
]com
pact
ligh
t gre
y br
own
coar
se
grav
el sa
nd, 0
.09m
N/S
by
?m b
y 0.
18m
070
105/
110,
11
0/11
0Po
st-ho
le
fill
042
Back
fill o
f pos
t hol
e [0
42] m
id y
ello
wish
bro
wn
soft
sand
y sil
t, 0.
11m
N/S
by
?m b
y 0.
11m
071
110/
105
Hea
rth
depo
sit00
1Fi
ll of
hea
rth
[001
]ver
y so
ft da
rk b
lack
cla
y sil
t, oc
casio
nal l
arge
su
b-an
gula
r sto
nes,
wel
l sor
ted
occa
siona
l fle
cks o
f cha
rcoa
l, m
oder
ate
smal
l fra
gmen
ts o
f cha
rcoa
l ver
y fr
eque
nt fr
agm
ents
of
hea
t affe
cted
ston
e--c
once
ntra
ted
at b
otto
m o
f dep
osit,
2.1
0m
N/S
by
2.00
m b
y 0.
09m
018
072
VO
ID07
3V
OID
074
110/
105
Post-
pipe
07
5U
-sha
ped
post-
pipe
[074
] for
pos
t hol
e [0
49],
tape
red
blun
t po
int i
n pr
ofile
, circ
ular
in p
lan,
0.2
2m N
/S b
y 0.
12m
by
0.15
m
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Mackney, Co. Galway ISSUE 2: Eachtra Journal - ISSN 2009-2237E2445 | A024/32
24
Con
text
N
o.G
ridC
onte
xt
type
Fill
of…
Fille
d w
ith…
Basic
Des
crip
tion
Find
s no.
Sam
ple
No.
Dra
win
g N
o.
075
110/
105
Post-
pipe
fil
l07
4fil
l of p
ost-p
ipe
[074
] pos
t hol
e [0
49] f
riabl
e m
id b
row
n or
ange
cl
ay si
lt oc
casio
nal s
mal
l ang
ular
ston
es, 0
.22m
by
0.10
m b
y 0.
10m
021
076
VO
ID07
7V
OID
078
105/
100
047
079
110/
105
Hea
rth
depo
sit00
1Fi
ll of
hea
rth
[001
] ver
y so
ft m
id b
row
n sa
nd c
lay,
mod
er-
ate
fine
sub-
angu
lar a
nd su
b-ro
unde
d pe
bble
s, 2.
50m
N/S
by
2.00
m b
y 0.
15m
030
080
110/
110
Post-
hole
fil
l03
7Bo
ttom
fill
of p
ost h
ole
[037
], m
id b
row
nish
ora
nge,
fria
ble
clay
ey si
lt, 0
.18m
N/S
by
0.12
m b
y 0.
05m
029
081
VO
ID08
2V
OID
083
105/
105
Occ
u-pa
tion
Surf
ace
Surf
ace-
-a c
once
ntra
tion
of c
harc
oal f
leck
s and
ver
y sm
all
frag
men
ts o
f bur
nt st
one
012
with
in a
mid
red
brow
n sa
nd si
lt 40
60
depo
sit 0
83 th
ere
was
som
e sc
orch
ing
of th
e na
tura
l too
. Pr
obab
ly a
sub
soil
but p
ossib
ly a
pre
histo
ric a
ctiv
ity h
oriz
on-
-cut
by
[013
] and
[019
], 1.
28m
N/S
by
1.12
m b
y 0.
06m
, 012
=
083
084
110/
110
Post-
pipe
043
Poss
ible
pos
t-pip
e le
ft af
ter p
ost w
as re
mov
ed/b
urnt
? [08
4],
squa
re u
-sha
ped
prof
ile, c
ircul
ar in
pla
n, 0
.24m
N/S
by
?m
by0.
18m
085
105/
115
Pit
-02
6C
ut o
f pit
[085
] con
cave
pro
file,
ova
l in
prof
ile, t
runc
ated
by
[086
], 1.
57m
N/S
by
0.58
m b
y 0.
28m
086
105/
115
Pit
087
Cut
of p
it [0
86] c
onca
ve p
rofil
e, o
val i
n pl
an, t
runc
ates
[085
], 0.
93m
N/S
by
0.62
m b
y 0.
31m
087
105/
115
Pit f
ill08
6Fi
ll of
pit
[086
] sof
t dar
k re
d br
own
clay
silt
40 6
0 m
oder
ate
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar s
tone
s, 0.
93m
N/S
by
0.62
m b
y 0.
31m
033
088
95/1
10Pi
t02
7C
ut o
f pit
[088
] squ
are
U-s
hape
d pr
ofile
, circ
ular
in p
lan,
1.1
8m
E/W
by
1.03
m b
y 0.
26m
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25
Con
text
N
o.G
ridC
onte
xt
type
Fill
of…
Fille
d w
ith…
Basic
Des
crip
tion
Find
s no.
Sam
ple
No.
Dra
win
g N
o.
089
110/
100
Post-
pipe
fil
l00
5Po
st p
acki
ng to
form
pos
t pip
e [0
05] s
tiff l
ight
gre
yish
whi
te si
lt cl
ay m
oder
ate
sub-
roun
ded
stone
s, po
stpi
pe sq
uare
U-s
hape
d pr
ofile
side
s slo
ping
stee
ply,
0.05
m N
/S b
y ?m
by
0.03
m09
011
5/11
0Po
st-ho
le09
1Po
ssib
le p
ost h
ole
[090
], sh
allo
w w
ith v
ertic
al si
des i
n pr
ofile
, ci
rcul
ar in
pla
n, p
ossib
ly u
sed
to fo
rm st
ruct
ure
with
[039
] and
[0
42]
091
115/
110
Post-
hole
fil
l09
0Fi
ll of
pos
sible
pos
t hol
e [0
90],
fria
ble
mid
yel
low
bro
wn
sand
y sil
t, w
ith fr
eque
nt c
oars
e gr
avel
, and
med
ium
sub-
angu
lar
stone
s, 0.
085m
E/W
by
0.08
by
0.08
m09
2Pi
t fill
093
Fill
of p
it [0
93],
mid
bro
wn
silty
cla
y w
ith fr
eque
nt c
harc
oal
fleck
s and
occ
asio
nal s
mal
l sto
nes.
0.4
m d
iam
eter
and
0.2
m
deep
E244
5:92
:1
093
Pit
092
Pit w
ith U
-sha
ped
prof
ile, f
illed
by
092,
0.4
m d
iam
eter
and
0.
2m d
eep
[…] =
Cut
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26
9
216
186
3375
4387
30
71
15
28
54/5 7
32
74
84
86
29
79
17
55/5 6
38
59
20/51
14
36
189
80
89
44
13
35
6059
37
45
434
48
4169
46
25
2750
78
40
68
53
388
49
47
39
70
26
19
83
12
567
85
91
42
90
10
cut
deposit
10.2
Ap
pend
ix 2:
Stra
tigra
phic
Mat
rix
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10.3 Appendix 3: Groups and sub-groups text
10.3.1 Group 1 Natural deposits
This group describes the natural subsoil identified across the excavated area.
10.3.1.1 Natural subsoil
Subsoil C10
Description: White yellow sand clay beneath topsoil C.9.
Interpretation: This subgroup describes the natural subsoil which was a white yellow sand clay. This is natural subsoil.
10.3.2 Group 2 Features around hearth
This group describes a series of Bronze Age features identified across the excavated area. These include a possible occupation surface, a hearth, five post-holes and a number of pits.
10.3.2.1 Possible occupation surface
Spread C.12
Description: Oval shaped spread of red brown sand silt with frequent charcoal flecking and burnt stone inclusions. The spread measured 1.28 m north/south, 1.12 m east/west and was quite shallow with an average depth of 0.06 m. The surface was cut by two large pits C.13 and C.19 described in subgroup 2.4. Interpretation: The spread is probably associated with the large hearth {group 2.2} located 2.5 m to the east. The spread is similar to the surrounding natural subsoil {group 1.1} how-ever the burnt stones and charcoal flecking suggest an anthropogenic formation.
10.3.2.2 Hearth
Cut C.1, Fills C.2, C.71, C.79
Description: Large sub-circular hearth or fire pit. The pit C.1 containing the hearth meas-ured 2.5 m north/south by 2.0 m east/west and was 0.45 m deep. It had moderately sloping sides and a shallow concave base. The basal fill C.79 was confined to the eastern half of the pit and was a soft mid brown sand clay with moderate amounts of pebble inclusions. This
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was covered by a 0.1 m deep band of dark black silt C.71 with moderate amounts of charcoal flecking and occasional large stones. The main fill was a 0.2 m deep mid grey brown clay silt C.2 with pebble and stone inclusions and occasional charcoal flecking. The hearth or fire pit is associated with a series of rubbish pits and post-holes {subgroup 2.3}.
Interpretation: This pit contained a burnt fill and is interpreted as a hearth or fire-pit.
10.3.2.3 Post-holes
Cuts C.5, C.34, C.37, C.39, C.42, C.49, Fills C.40, C.41, C.35, C.36, C.66, C.84, C.43, C.80, C.38, C.6, C.54/57, C.55/56, C.50.Description: A total of five post-holes were also found in the area around the hearth (C.5, C.34, C.39, C.42 and C.49). A shallow feature (C.37) was also a possible truncated post-hole. On average the post-holes measured 0.73 m long, 0.55 m wide and 0.24 m deep. There was evidence for stone packing in three of the post-holes; C.34, C.39 and C.42. The fact that stone packing was still in place indicates that these posts must have rotted in situ, as removal of the posts would have also disturbed the packing. Three (C.5, C.42 and C.34) were posi-tioned in a straight line to the south-west of the hearth.
Post-hole cut C.5, filled with C.6, C.54/57, C.55/56. Post-pipe cut C.89 is filled with C.59. It had a square U-Shaped profile and was rectangular with rounded corners in plan. It measured 0.82m N/S by 0.56m by 0.20m. The fill of the post-hole C.6 was a friable dark greyish black clay silt occasional sub-rounded medium stones moderate small sub-angular stones. Another fill C.54/57 and it was a soft mid brown orange clay silt occasional small sub-angular and medium sub-rounded stones. The primary fill was C.55/56 a very soft mid brown orange sand silt.
Post-hole C.39 was sub-circular in shape with smooth moderately sloping sides and a flat base. It measured 0.9 m by 0.7 m by 0.4 m deep. Filled with mid brown orange clay silt C.41 with occasional large sub-angular stones. The post-pipe was packed in place by stone packing C.40.
Post-hole C.34 was sub-circular in shape with smooth moderately sloping sides and a flat base. It measured 0.8 m by 0.6 m by 0.35 m deep. The sides of the post-hole were lined with large sub-rounded stones C.35 which would have acted as packing stones for the post. The fill was mid brown orange silt clay C.36 which contained moderate amounts of small to large stones.
Post-hole C.42 was sub-circular in shape with concave steep sides and a flat base. It measured 0.8 m by 0.73 m by 0.28 m deep. The sides of the post-hole were lined with peb-bles, packing stones and a mid yellowish brown sandy silt C.66. A post-pipe C.84 located in
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29
the southern half of the post-hole measuring 0.58 m by 0.5 m by 0.14 m was identified and was filled with a very soft dark brown black silt C.43, it was also filled with C.70. There were two stone-pads in the base of the post-hole, C.65 and C.67.
Post-hole cut C.49 filled with C.50. C.74 Post-pipe cut in post-hole C.49. C.75 Fill of post-pipe C.74. The post-hole C.49 had a concave profile, was circular in plan, and was truncated by C.74 and measured 0.40m N/S by 0.35m by 0.15m. The fill C.50 was friable mid grey black sand silt.
The shallow remains of possible small post-hole C.37 were identified to the east of post-hole C. 34. It had smooth steep sides and a flat base and measured 0.18 m by 0.12 m by 0.08 m deep. The lowest fill was a mid brown orange clay silt C.80 with occasional medium sized stone inclusions. The upper fill was dark grey black clay silt C.38 which possibly repre-sents the decayed remains of a small post.
Post-hole cut C.29 was filled with C.30, a firm mid greyish white clay silt with fre-quent large angular stones. The post-hole was circular in plan and U-shaped in profile. It measured 0.24 m in diameter and was 0.08 m deep. The post-hole cut the upper fill of pit C.19.
Post-hole cut C.90 was filled with C.91, a friable mid yellow brown sandy silt, with frequent coarse gravel, and medium sub-angular stones. The post-hole was shallow with vertical sides in profile. It was circular in plan and measured 0.085 m E/W by 0.08 m and it was 0.08 m deep. Interpretation: The occasional large sub-angular stones present in fill C.41 of post-hole C.39 are possibly the remains of packing material which were used to support a post and have now mixed with the fill of the post-hole. This suggests that the post was removed from the post-hole and not left to rot in situ. The same appears to have been the case for post-hole C.34. However, post-holes C.42 and C.37 appear to have rotted in situ. Post-hole C.90 was possibly used to form structure with post-holes C.39 and C.42. These post-holes are asso-ciated with the hearth C.1. Post-holes and stake-holes are often found in association with hearths. The post-holes may denote the presence of a screen or a structure to shield the fire from the prevailing south-westerly wind.
10.3.2.4 Pits
Cuts C.3, C.13, C.15, C.17, C.19, C.32, C.47, Fills C.4, C.25, C.14, C.16, C.28, C.18, C.20, C.51, C.44, C.45, C.56, C.53, C.33, C.78, C.48.Description: This subgroup describes a series of seven pits situated near the hearth C.1.
Pit C.3 was circular in plan, and it measured 0.48 m N/S by 0.44 m by 0.12 m deep.
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The fills (C.4 and C.25) were friable black clay silt constituting a dump of burnt material and friable mid grey black sand silt, possibly representing natural silting up of the base of the pit. Pit C.13 was circular in plan and measured 1.6 m E/W by 1.0 m by 0.78 m. It was filled by C.14 a soft mid red brown clay silt. Pit C.15 was sub-circular in plan and measured 1.2 m N/S by 1.1 m by 0.16 m deep. It was filled by C.16 a soft dark grey black clay silt. Pit C.17 was sub-circular in plan and measured 1.2 m N/S by 1.1 m by 0.16 m deep. It was filled by C.28, the basal fill and C.18, a soft dark grey black clay silt.
Pit C.19 was circular in plan and measured 1.1 m E/W by 1.02 m by 0.64 m deep. It was filled by deposits of friable dark red brown sand clay, C.20 and C.51, light brown yellow clay C.44, two lenses of charcoal rich burnt material C.45 and C.46, very soft mid brown orange sand silt C.56 and a friable mid grey clay silt C.53. Pit C.32 was sub-circular in plan and measured 1.23 m N/S by 0.82 m by 0.23 deep. It was filled by a friable mid grey black silt clay C.33. Pit C.47 was sub-circular in plan, truncated by pits C.15 and C.17. Despite trunca-tion it measured 0.7 m N/S by 0.62 m by 0.36 m deep. It was filled by light grey white stiff friable clayey silt C.48 and C.78. Interpretation: A total of seven pits (C.3, C.13, C.15, C.17, C.19, C.32 and C.47) were found in the area around the hearth C.1. On average these measured 1.07 m long, 0.87 m wide and 0.35 m deep. There were no finds from these pits and there was no indication of their original use. The fill of one of the pits (C.13, fill C.14) produced hazel charcoal which yielded a Middle to Late Bronze Age radiocarbon date cal BC 1114-919 (UB-7356), demonstrating that use of the pits was contemporary with use of the hearth. These pits were interpreted as either rubbish pits, or possible early structural features that have been truncated.
10.3.3 Group 3 Group of pits to the north-west
This group describes three pits that were in the northwest corner of the site, c. 5 m from the main area of activity.
10.3.3.1 Pits
Cuts: C.85, C.86, C.88, Fills: C.26, C.87, C.27.
Description: Pit C.85 was oval in plan. It was truncated by C.86. The remaining dimensions were 1.57 m N/S by 0.58 m by 0.28 m deep. It was filled by C.26 a deposit with evidence for in situ burning. The deposit was a soft dark red brown clay silt with moderate small to me-dium sub-angular stones. Pit C.86 was oval in plan. It truncated C.85 and measured 0.93 m N/S by 0.62 m by 0.31 m deep. It was filled by C.87 a dark red brown clay silt. Pit C.88 was circular in plan and measured 1.18 m E/W by 1.03 m by 0.26 m deep. It was filled by C.27 a
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soft mid grey brown clay silt.
Interpretation: A total of three pits (C.85, C.86 and C.88) were located in the northwest corner, c. 5 m from the main area of activity. Fill C.26 of pit cut C.85 has evidence of in situ burning. This may have been a hearth or a pit used for disposal of hearth waste. Pit C.86 truncates pit C.85. There was no evidence for a relationship between these pits and the other archaeological features discovered at the site. These pits are possibly rubbish pits, with C.85 interpreted as a possible hearth.
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10.4 Appendix 4: Lithics Finds Report for E2445 Mackney
By: Dr. Farina Sternke, MA, PhD, Department of Archaeology, University College Cork
Introduction
One lithic find from the archaeological investigations along the route of the N6 Galway-Ballinasloe Road at Mackney, Co. Galway, were presented for analysis. The find is associated with a possible Bronze Age habitation site.
Find
Num
ber
Cont
ext
Mat
eria
l
Type
Corte
x
Cond
ion
Leng
th (m
m)
Wid
th (m
m)
Thic
kn. (
mm
)
Com
plet
e
Reto
uch
Com
men
t
E2445:9:91 9 Chert Natural Chunk Yes Slightly weathered 5 16 11 Yes No some edge damage
Table 1 Composition of the lithic assemblage from Mackney (E2445)
Methodology
All lithic artefacts were examined visually and catalogued using Microsoft Excel. The follow-ing details were recorded for each artefact: context information, raw material type, artefact type, the presence of cortex, artefact condition, length, with and thickness measurements, fragmentation and the type of retouch (where applicable). The technological criteria recorded are based on the terminology and technology presented in Inizan et al. 1999. The general typological and morphological classifications are based on Woodman et al. 2006.
Quantification
The lithics are one natural chunk of chert (Table 1).
Provenance
The find was recovered from the topsoil.
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Condition:
The lithics survives in slightly weathered complete condition.
Technology/Morphology:
The lithic is a natural chunk of chert which displays some edge damage on its right edge.
Conservation
Lithics do not require specific conversation, but should be stored in a dry, stable environment. Preferably, each lithic should be bagged separately and contact with other lithics should be avoided, so as to prevent damage and breakage, in particular edge damage which could later be misinterpreted as retouch. Larger and heavier items are best kept in individual boxes to avoid crushing of smaller assemblage pieces.
Discussion
The lithic find from the archaeological investigations at Mackney, Co. Galway, along the route of the N6 Galway - Ballinasloe Road is a natural chunk of chert which has no archaeo-logical significance.
Bibliography
Inizan, M.-L., M. Reduron-Ballinger, H. Roche and J. Tixier 1999. Technology and Terminology of Knapped Stone 5. CREP, Nanterre.
Woodman, P. C., Finlay, N. and E. Anderson 2006. The Archaeology of a Collection: The Keiller-Knowles Collection of the National Museum of Ireland. National Museum of Ireland Monograph Series 2. Wordwell, Bray.
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10.5 Appendix 5: Plant remains analysis
By Mary Dillon
10.5.1 Introduction
The site excavated at Mackney E2445 represented the remains of Middle to Late Bronze Age occupation. The site comprised a large hearth, nine pits, three large stone-lined post-holes, and two smaller post-holes. Charcoal from the site yielded two Middle to Late Bronze Age radiocarbon dates.
10.5.2 Methodology
Bulk soil samples were collected on site and were processed post-excavation using a simple flotation method. Each sample was saturated in water to allow the carbonised plant material to float. This was then poured off into a series of sieves (1 mm and 250 µm), trapping the ‘flot’ (floating material), which was air-dried and stored in air-tight plastic bags. The flots were sort-ed and scanned for plant material and charcoal using a low-powered binocular microscope (magnification x 10 to x 40). Nomenclature and taxonomic orders follows Stace (1997).
10.5.3 Results
Only one sample out of 29 produced plant remains. S31 from pit fill C27 contained an inde-terminate nut shell fragment.
10.5.4 Discussion
It is interesting to compare this site to other Bronze Age sites. Haugheys Fort is a Late Bronze Age hillfort in Ulster. Here large amounts of uncontaminated charred barley was found in pits in the interior along with some hazel nut shells and, in the innermost ditch, weed seeds and an intact apple were found (Mallory 1995, 29). At False Bay in Co. Galway a Bronze Age midden was excavated. Small amounts of charred barley grain were identified here (Mc-Cormick 1995, 13). At Ballynattin in Co. Wicklow Bronze Age structures and associated features produced emmer wheat grains, barley grains (probably naked barley), and indeter-minate wheat grains, which were also probably emmer. Nine emmer wheat spikelets and knotgrass seeds were also identified (Dillon 2006a). Area 1 at Tawlaght in Co. Kerry dated to the Bronze Age. Plant remains came from a variety of features, including post holes, pits, a stakehole and a slot trench. They were dominated by barley grains, cereal grains that could
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not be identified to type and weed seeds including those from the knotgrass family (Dillon 2006b). A burnt mound site at Doughiska E2052, Co. Galway produced one hazelnut shell fragment and one cereal grain cf. barley (Dillon 2007a). A similar site nearby, Mackney E2443, produced no plant remains (Dillon 2007b).
The lack of plant remains from this site may indicate a non-domestic use for the site. As il-lustrated above many Bronze Age settlement sites do produce plant remains, while at burnt mound sites plant remains are rare.
10.5.5 Summary
Only one indeterminate nut shell fragment was recovered from the 29 soil samples taken at this site. In comparison to Bronze Age settlement sites this is rare, although some Bronze Age sites, such as burnt mounds, rarely produce plant remains. The lack of plant remains may indicate a non-domestic use for the site.
10.5.6 References
Dillon, M. 2006a. Analysis of plant remains from Ballynattin, Co. Wicklow. Unpublished technical report produced for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
Dillon, M. 2006b. Analysis of plant remains from Tawlaght, Co. Kerry. Unpublished technical report produced for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
Dillon, M. 2007a. Analysis of plant remains from Doughiska E2052, Co. Galway. Unpublished technical report produced for Valerie J. Keeley ltd.
Dillon, M. 2007b. Analysis of plant remains from Mackney E2443, Co. Galway. Unpublished technical report produced for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
McCormick, F. 1995. False Bay, Co. Galway, in the Bronze Age, Archaeology Ireland, 9 (1), 12-13.
Mallory, J. 1995. Haugheys Fort – Macha’s other twin?, Archaeology Ireland, 9 (1), 28-30.
Stace, C.A. 1997 New Flora in the British Isles (2nd edition), Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
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10.6 Appendix 6: Charcoal analysis
By Mary Dillon
Introduction
The site excavated at Mackney E2445 represented the remains of Middle to Late Bronze Age occupation. The site comprised a large hearth, nine pits, three large stone-lined post-holes, and two smaller post-holes. Twenty-nine samples were submitted for analysis and 10 samples contained charcoal.
Methodology
Bulk soil samples were collected on site and were processed post-excavation using a simple flotation method. Each sample was saturated in water to allow the carbonised plant material to float, which was then poured off into a series of sieves (1 mm and 250 µm), trapping the ‘flot’ (floating material). This was air-dried and stored in air-tight plastic bags. The flots were sorted and scanned for plant material and charcoal using a low-powered binocular micro-scope (magnification x 10 to x 40). All charcoal fragments of 2 mm or greater were identified. Each fragment was prepared for microscopic examination by fracturing it by hand and there-by exposing a clean surface along transverse, radial and tangential planes. All three planes were examined at a range of magnifications (x5 to x100) under a Nikon stereo microscope. For reference literature the website ‘wood anatomy’ was consulted. The number and weight of fragments were recorded for each charcoal type.
Results
In all, 181 charcoal fragments were identified from 10 samples (Table 1).
In Figs 1 and 2 percentage frequencies of the various charcoal types based on fragment count and dry weight, respectively, are shown. The most frequent charcoal type overall is oak at 47% or 77% by weight. This is followed in descending frequency by hazel 28% / 14%, po-moideae 8% / 3%, ash 7%/ 2%, Prunus type 4% / 1%, alder 3% / 2%, yew 2%/ 0.5% and willow/aspen 1% / 0.5%.
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Discussion
Oak (Quercus) was the most common wood type in the Mackney E2445 assemblage, mak-ing up 47% (or 77% by weight). It forms 100% of S31 from C27, which was recorded as a pit, but given the charcoal evidence was probably a post-hole. The charcoal was from a large trunk or branch of a slow-growing oak (indicated by the wide and also straight tree rings), and the wood was slightly vitrified, indicating that it was possibly charred while below the soil. The indications are that this sample of oak charcoal was the remains of an oak post. Oak is a slow-burning wood and gives out substantial heat as it burns. Its dominance in an assemblage usually indicates the smelting of metals (which it was widely used for) or the re-mains of oak posts. There are two native species of oak in Ireland, namely Q. petraea and Q. robur. Unfortunately, it is difficult to distinguish these species on the basis of wood anatomy (Grosser 1977). Oak would have become widespread and common in the Bronze Age but not dominant according to a pollen diagram from Mongon Bog near Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly (Parkes & Mitchell 2000).
Fig. 1 Percentage fragment count of wood types from Mackney E2445
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Fig. 2 Percentage weight of wood types from Mackney E2445
Hazel (Corylus avellana) formed 28% (or 14% by weight) of the assemblage. It was widely exploited in both prehistory and historical times for its nutritious nuts and supple rods which were widely used for building. Its coppice-like growth form makes it relatively easy to cut and there are normally substantial quantities of dead wood available near ground level for fuel wood. A pollen diagram from Mongon Bog (Parkes & Mitchell 2000, 35-40) indicates that during the Bronze Age hazel was one of the most prominent trees.
Pomoideae type charcoal - including Sorbus (rowan/whitebeam), Crataegus (hawthorn) and Malus (crab apple) - formed 8% / 3% of the assemblage. Woodlands and woodland-related environments are the normal habitats for the various woody plants that may be represented in this wood type, although Sorbus includes trees with quite different ecological preferences such as rowan (S. aucuparia) and whitebeams (e.g. S. hibernica, S. aria and S. rupicola). An important habitat, especially for hawthorn (Crataegus), is the so-called Mantel or edge com-munities of woodlands (cf. Wilmanns & Brun-Hool 1982). The spines of hawthorn afford it a degree protection from grazing and enable it to establish and survive in the face of light grazing. Pomoideae was poorly represented in the pollen record from Mongon Bog (it is in-sect pollinated).
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), accounting for 7%/ 2% by weight, is present in small amounts in many of the samples. Ash makes great fuel, burned green or dead, and this may have influ-
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enced its selection. According to the pollen diagram it was readily available in the locality.
Prunus type charcoal - including P. avium (wild cherry), P. padus (bird cherry) and P. spinosa (blackthorn) - formed 4% / 1% of the assemblage. Blackthorn may have been common in Mantel vegetation while wild cherry would be expected to occur in the woodlands. Bird cherry may also have been represented but today it is largely confined to the northern part of Ireland (Preston et al. 2002). Webb et al. (1996) regards it as introduced though this view is not universally accepted. Prunus was poorly represented in the Mongon Bog pollen record (it is insect pollinated).
Alder (Alnus glutinosa), yew (Taxus baccata) and willow/aspen (Salix/populus) were recorded at under 3% of the total assemblage.
The charcoal came from the hearth, post-holes and pits. There was no notable difference between the hearth samples and samples from the post-holes and pits, implying perhaps that the charcoal from the post-holes and pits came from the hearth originally. The only exception to this was S31 from C27. This sample was 100% oak. The charcoal was from a large trunk or branch of a slow growing oak (indicated by the wide and also straight tree rings), and the wood was slightly vitrified, indicating that it was possibly charred whilst below the soil. The indications are that this sample of oak charcoal was the remains of an oak post. While this context was recorded as a pit, it was possibly a post-hole. It is almost unknown to find a sample of 100% mature oak wood, unless it is the burnt remains of a structure or oak that was used to fire smelting works. Oak is a strong, durable wood. The anatomy of oak wood lends itself excellently to wood working. It is easily split into planks, as it has large multiseri-ate rays. Tyloses form in the vessels of heartwood, and along with tannin deposits, make the wood virtually impenetrable (cf. Wilson & White 1986). It has been widely used in construc-tion throughout prehistory and also in the historical period. The use of oak in Bronze Age structures is widely documented e.g. at Ballinderry 2 (Hencken 1942, 8) and at Raffin Fort (Newman 1995, 175). However, it is suspected that many of the older excavations that claim to have wetland settlement sites built entirely of oak are biased. There is a danger that hard timbers were automatically regarded as oak which, on account of its hardness, was also more likely to be preserved under wet conditions. There was therefore a bias towards oak in both sampling and identification.
The rest of the assemblage is probably the remains of locally gathered wood used to fire small
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fires, exploiting easily available hazel, ash, pomoideae type such as hawthorn, rowan, white-beam and Prunus species such as blackthorn and cherry which were growing around the site. Alder, yew and willow/aspen were probably also present in the immediate locality. The pres-ence of wet-loving trees such as willow/aspen and alder indicates that the site may have been situated near damp ground.
Comparative studies
It is interesting to compare the charcoal from Mackney E2445 with that from other Bronze Age sites. For example, at Lough Gur, Co. Limerick, several Bronze Age structures have been excavated by R.M Cleary. Hazel, willow/aspen, ash, oak and alder charcoal were recovered from the post-holes with blackthorn, birch and elm charcoal in smaller amounts (McKeown 2003, 149-51; Cleary 2003, 109-47). While the ash and oak were evidently used as structural posts, it is suggested that other woods, in particular hazel, are the burnt remains of wattles. Charcoal analysis from fulachta fiadh excavated along the Gas Pipeline to the West demon-strates that a range of trees were gathered as firewood, particularly alder, hazel, oak and ash (O’Donnell, 2005). O’Donnell’s studies suggest the same wood types were used as fuel in burnt mounds across the country, which suggest that a selection process of some kind was in place. These trees were also common at Kiltoton Colinstown burnt mound in Co. Westmeath (Dillon, 2006) and nearby burnt mound sites at Cooltymurraghy, Urraghy and Barnacragh (Dillon 2007a, 2007b, 2007c).
Situated only 300 m from this site, Mackney E2443 consisted of pits and a hearth and was probably contemporary with Mackney E2445. The most frequent charcoal type there is hazel at 63% followed in descending frequency by pomoideae 17%, Prunus 7%, hazel/alder 3%, oak 3%, ash 3%, willow/aspen 3%, holly 1%, birch 1% and alder 1% (Dillon 2007d). The analysis surmised that the charcoal assemblage from that site reflected the remains of locally gathered wood.
Summary
Oak dominated the assemblage, followed by hazel, pomoideae, ash and prunus. Alder, yew and willow were also recorded. The dominance of oak is largely due to one sample which was the remains of an oak structural timber and probably indicates a post-hole. It is likely the rest of the assemblage reflects locally gathered wood used for small firings.
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Fragment CountSample Context Oak Hazel Pomoideae Ash Willow/aspen Alder Yew Prunus
27 2 2 716a 14 6 22 3 3
9 6 2 6 1 2 227 31 5010 6 4 119 14 12 1 3 1 118 71 3 7
16b 14 9 11 113 44 3 1 6 2 28 3 1 2 1 2 1
85 50 15 13 2 5 3 8
Weight in gramsSample Context Oak Hazel Pomoideae Ash Willow/aspen Alder Yew Prunus
27 2 0.13 0.5816a 14 0.12 1.8 0.3 0.25
9 6 0.18 0.18 0.07 0.06 0.0327 31 14.2110 6 0.18 0.1819 14 1.91 0.01 0.07 0.02 0.0418 71 0.05 0.19
16b 14 0.15 0.25 0.0213 44 0.07 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.088 3 0.01 0.08 0.05 0.03 0.04
Table 1 Fragment count and weight of charcoal
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References
Cleary, R.M. 2003. Enclosed late Bronze Age habitation site and boundary wall at Lough Gur, Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 103C, 109-47.
Dillon, M. 2006. Analysis of charcoal from Kiltotan Colinstown, Co. Westmeath. Unpublished technical report produced for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
Dillon, M. 2007a. Analysis of charcoal from Cooltymurraghy E2448, Co. Galway. Unpublished technical report produced for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
Dillon, M. 2007b. Analysis of charcoal from Urraghry E2449, Co. Galway. Unpublished technical report produced for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
Dillon, M. 2007c. Analysis of charcoal from Barnacragh E2446, Co. Galway. Unpublished technical report produced for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
Dillon, M. 2007d. Analysis of charcoal from Macknety E2443, Co. Galway. Unpublished technical report produced for Eachtra Archaeological Projects.
Hencken, H. O’N. 1942. Ballinderry crannóg no. 2. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 47C, 1-76.
Grosser, D., 1977. Die Holzer Mitteleuropas. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
McKeown, S. 2003. The charred wood. In: Cleary R.M. (2003) Enclosed late Bronze Age habitation site and boundary wall at Lough Gur, Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 103C, 149-151.
Newman, C. 1995. Raffin Fort, Co. Meath: Neolithic and Bronze Age activity. In: E. Grogan & C. Mount (eds.) Annus archaeologiae: proceedings of the OIA winter conference 1993. Organisation of Irish Archaeologists, Dublin, 55-65.
O’Donnell, L. 2005 Environmental Archaeology from the Gas Pipeline to the West. On http://www.mglarc.com.
Parkes H.M & Mitchell FJG 2000 Vegetation History at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Vol. 100B, No. 1, 35-40
Preston, C.D., Pearman, D.A. & Dines, T.D. (eds.) 2002. New atlas of the British and Irish flora. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
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Webb, D.A., Parnell, J. & Doogue, D. 1996 An Irish flora, 7th edn. Dundalgan Press, Dundalk.
Wilmanns, O. & Brun-Hool, J. 1982. Irish Mantel and Saum vegetation. In: J. White (ed.) Studies on Irish vegetation, Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, 167-174.
Wilson, K. & White, D.J.B. 1986 The anatomy of wood: its diversity and variability. Stobart, London.
‘Wood Anatomy’ at http//:www.woodanatomy.ch.