NUI Galway, International Summer School, caherconnell archaeological Field School 

Academic Director: Dr. Michelle Comber

The unique Burren landscape of western Ireland has huge archaeological potential, on a local, regional, national, and international scale, due to its excellent preservation of upstanding remains and material culture. The Caherconnell Archaeological Project began in 2007 with an excavation within a large settlement enclosure (a ’cashel’) of Caherconnell, in the central Burren, Co. Clare. The following year, a second excavation was undertaken, this time focused on a medieval structure outside the cashel. 2009 saw a third excavation, one that concentrated on a prehistoric settlement and ritual site. The School was established in 2010 to continue archaeological research in this landscape.

In 2010 the Caherconnell Archaeological Field School excavated the entrance to the cashel, revealing a path inside a medieval entrance. Finds included a decorated bone comb, musket shot and a peg from a harp! The medieval entrance comprised two sets of double doors within the entrance passage, each marked by a stone sill and a pair of spud-stones (pivot stones/sockets). The inner sill is of better quality cut stone, with two well-cut and dressed ’door stop’ stones inside the door position. Shallow niches in the cashel wall, in line with the outer sill, supported vertical jamb stones. Three of the four jambs were located. These are also cut and dressed stones. The dressing suggests a medieval date. This entrance was not the original one, and was probably constructed around the 15^th or 16^th century when a rectangular house was built inside the cashel.

Inside the cashel a slab-paved path was found leading to/from the entrance, lining up roughly (though not exactly) with the northern half of the entrance. The inexact alignment of the path with the medieval entrance might suggest that the path is earlier in date. A paved surface was uncovered to the north of the path, and an irregular stony surface to the south. Medieval remains were found above these levels, earlier material below.

This earlier material represents the primary activity within the cashel, probably dating from the 10^th to 12^th century AD. The original entrance from this date was completely remodelled in the 15th/16th century, however excavations did uncover one trace of it – a single post-hole (that would have held a large gate-post).

In 2011 Caherconnell Archaeological Field School excavated an area inside the cashel, next to the entrance. Three successive habitation surfaces were uncovered, with associated features that included a fire-pit, hearth remains and a stone-built drain. Artefacts included the remains of at least 8 finely-made bone combs (some decorated), a decorated bronze dress pin, a bronze hair pin, a quartz bead and a number of iron knives.

Programme Details 

Course 1:  Introduction to Archaeological Excavation (Level 1 excavation).
This module is designed to provide students with a good introduction to archaeological excavation.
Field School Dates:J une 11-22;  JUne 25 - July 6;  July 30 - August 10.
(3 Semester Credits / 6 ECTS Credits)

Course 2:  Post-excavation Processing and Analysis (Level 1 post- excavation)
This module is designed to train students in the basic skills of archaeological post-excavation and processing.
Field School Dates: August 13 - 24.   

Contact

For further information applicants should contact:

Caherconnell Archaeological Field School
Caherconnell Stone Fort
Carron
Kilfenora
Co. Clare
Tel: +353 65 7089999
Fax +353 65 7089888
Email: schoolcafs.ie
Web: http://www.caherconnell.com/

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