Excavations in Caherconnell townland, Co. Clare

Project Description

This programme of excavation was designed to investigate the theories and questions posed by the Archaeology of a Burren Ringfort Landscape survey project. An Early Medieval settlement cluster, with associated multi-period remains, was identified in Caherconnell townland, Co. Clare. This excavation project comprises two strands of investigation – a series of small-scale volunteer excavations undertaken during annual Heritage Week, in conjunction with Graham Hull of TVAS Ireland Ltd., and larger-scale research excavations operating as a field-school for the Dept. of Archaeology, NUI Galway. The former commenced in 2007 with a small cutting inside the large cashel known as Caherconnell cashel.

A hand-dug trench was targeted at the remains of a rectangular stone-built structure in the northern quadrant of the cashel. The excavation produced evidence of a wall, door and floor associated with the rectangular structure. Beneath the floor, stratigraphically earlier archaeological deposits were located. These deposits produced faunal and floral remains, and several artefacts.

Radiocarbon dating indicates that the cashel was constructed between the 10 ^th and mid-12 ^th centuries AD. Occupation deposits indicate use of the cashel between the 10 ^th and early 13 ^th centuries. The rectangular structure was probably built and used between the early 15 ^th and mid-17 ^th centuries.

In 2008, work commenced at a small, enigmatic, structure adjacent to the large cashel at Caherconnell. This structure comprises the remains of a sub-circular drystone structure (just over 2m in internal diameter) located in the northern half of a sub-oval depression in the limestone pavement, roughly mid-way between the main cashel of Caherconnell, and a smaller, poorly-preserved circular cashel in the same townland.

Excavations within this natural hollow continued in 2009.  The remains of a rectilinear, timber-framed house were discovered in the southern half of the hollow.  The associated lithic assemblage suggests a possible Late Neolithic date for this structure (C14 dates are pending).  The hollow also contained the remains of a probable Early Bronze Age flat cemetery, with sherds of decorated funerary pottery and possible cremated bone scattered throughout.  Much later, it appears that the occupants of the adjacent large cashel built and used the small stone structure as a possible store.  Some time after the 15th / 16th century, human remains of that date were placed in the partially-silted up entrance of the structure.  This jumble of bones represented the incomplete skeletons of three individuals (mostly from a single adolescent, with single bones from two other individuals).  This irreverent treatment of Christian remains might suggest that the original burials were accidentally disturbed and some of the bones hastily disposed of in a 'convenient' place.

These excavations have begun the process of providing evidence of dating and function for this landscape.

Excavations within, and in the immediate vicinity of, the main cashel at Caherconnell will continue with the establishment of the Caherconnell Archaeological Field School.  The School offers it's first training courses in 2010, with excavation concentrated on the entrance area of the cashel.

2010 Excavation of Square Enclosure

A two-month excavation in 2010, funded by the Royal Irish Academy, will target a sub-square drystone, cashel-like, enclosure in the townland of Caherconnell, Co. Clare. A circular cashel lies 30–40m to the north (CL09:30-08), and the main cashel of Caherconnell another 50m or so north of that (CL09:30-10).   

The sub-square enclosure is located on a narrow, level shelf, with slightly higher ground to the north and lower ground to the south. This site is not marked on the RMP or Ordnance Survey maps. It is a sub-square or slightly D-shaped drystone enclosure or cashel, with visible internal and external features. The walls of the cashel are of limestone, with large blocks or slabs laid horizontally to form faces, with slightly smaller stones between, probably 1.5–2m wide originally.

It is hoped to carry out several seasons of excavation in this immediate landscape, targeting the current enclosure, the circular cashel next to it, and a number of other features in their vicinity. This particular site type has not previously been excavated. A number of such sites are known from across the Burren, however nothing is known of their chronology or function. From surface survey, they appear to form a ringfort/cashel sub-type. This excavation would contribute to current reassessment of the ’ringfort’ label, and the emerging identification of enclosure sub-categories. 

The excavation will operate as a field school for NUI, Galway archaeology students.

Contact Details

Dr Michelle Comber  profile)
Department of Archaeology,
School of Geography and Archaeology, NUI, Galway

Contact: michelle.combernuigalway.ie

Funding Bodies

TVAS Ireland Ltd.
Burren Forts Ltd.
Royal Irish Academy

Links

Caherconnell Stone Fort
Caherconnell Archaeological Field School
Excavation reports and summaries are available on the TVAS Ireland website

Project Publications

• 2010 'Caherconnell, Co. Clare - a cashel of continous use?' The Other Clare vol. 34
• 2010 (with Graham Hull) ’Excavations at Caherconnell Cashel, the Burren, Co. Clare: implications for cashel chronology and Gaelic settlement.’ Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 110C, 133 - 171.  Available online at: http://www.ria.ie/RIA/files/6c/6ca57f2f-9a09-43fe-9fc7-35a0d23547d7.pdf
• 2008 (with Graham Hull) ’Caherconnell, Co. Clare, and cashel chronology.’ Archaeology Ireland 22, no.4, 30–3.

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