Midden in Ballaghaline

On quite level ground on Ballaghaline Point, currently tarmacked as part of the Doolin ferry terminal car park, but formerly a location of thin soil cover (D 0.5-0.55m) over exposed limestone pavement. In the summer of 1996, what was described as 'a ring of small slabs set on edge, with earth and stone in the centre' was seen eroding into the sea. When inspected, this arrangement of stones was not apparent but a decorated cylindrical bone bead was recovered from soil eroding onto the foreshore, and bone fragments were also noted. An examination in December 1996 by Ann Lynch (Licence no. 96CE0372) found patches of dark, organic, friable clays with charcoal flecks at the bottom of the eroded face of the soil overlying the limestone pavement. Within the sediment which had washed down onto the adjacent limestone foreshore was a moderate amount of animal bone (possibly including human teeth), and tiny fragments of burnt bone. (Lynch 1997) In February 2012 a larger-scale excavation took place at this general location (Rubicon Heritage Services, Licence no. 11E0353). A site visit by Christine Grant (DAHG) and Billy Quinn (Moore Group) had uncovered a bronze pin in the approximate location of the monument and further site inspections by Christine Grant, Billy Quinn, Carleton Jones and Danny Bourke had noted archaeological material (animal bone, human bone, struck stone and copper/bronze) eroding from the exposed section face. The excavation revealed stratigraphic evidence for a number of heavily disturbed phases of activity, with radiocarbon dates ranging from the Iron Age to the post-medieval period. Middens and other deposits of animal bone, marine shell and charcoal fragments were recovered. There were smaller quantities of charred cereal grains, pea seeds, stone tools and debitage (some dating to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age), as well as burnt sandstone (possibly transported to this location), two human teeth and one human bone, and a single hearth. It was concluded from these findings that this location at Ballaghaline Point was the focus of intermittent activity over thousands of years, most intensively during the medieval period (O'Hara 2012). Following severe storms in 2013/2014 and in advance of the construction of a new pier and carpark further archaeological excavation took place under an extension of the above licence (May 2014). Coastal erosion had revealed significant areas of midden just SW of the previous excavation area. Animal bone and shell fragments were found in an area of grass-covered soil eroded to form a ‘mound’ of earth (7.2m x 5.5m). Medium to large stones E and S of the mound were interpreted as a possible structure. Two lithics from the Late Neolithic or possibly Early Bronze Age indicated prehistoric activity. Barley grains were radiocarbon dated to the Early Iron Age while small finds of pottery, glass and metal were indicative of later activity. Eight elements of human bone were found and along with the human remains from the previous excavation were deemed to represent one adult. It was noted that the deposition of human bone within a shell midden may have had a ritual function. The material overall was quite disturbed due to tidal action, erosion and modern disturbance. (O’Hara 2015) The following images have been uploaded: CL008A006----_01.jpg Animal bones, teeth, and copper or bronze (close-up) CL008A006----_02.jpg Animal bones, teeth, copper or bronze, and mudstone CL008A006----_03.jpg Decorated bone bead (from Lynch 1997) CL008A006----_04.jpg Eroded topsoil section-face CL008A006----_05.jpg Shell Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 10 January 2023 Lynch, A. 1997 Ballaghaline, Clare. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1996: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 6, no. 20. Bray. Wordwell. O'Hara, J. 2012 Doolin Pier, Doolin, Clare. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2012: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, no. 76. Bray. Wordwell. O’Hara, J. B. 2015 Final report on archaeological excavations (Phase 2) at Ballaghaline, Doolin, Co. Clare. Rubicon Heritage Services. Licence No. 11E0353 ext. Unpublished report, National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.