Clare Island

Clare island is a rock outcrop island with soil cover (dims. c. 50m NW-SE; c. 30m NE-SW), situated between Bannow Island, which is c. 200m to the W, and the mainland, which is c. 140m to the SE. In 1864 animal bones and oyster shells were noted over much of the island (Anon. 1864a). In the same year a trench was excavated (Anon. 1864b) and the bones were identified as largely deer with cattle and pig. The only artefacts recovered were fragments of an earthenware vessel. Within the 'A' horizon on the W side of island a lens of shells (L c. 20m; T c. 0.1m) mostly oyster, some animal bone and burnt stone can still be seen. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 22 July 2013