Enclosure in Farrankelly

Large plectrum-shaped enclosure (diam. 44m N-S x 42m E-W) of possible late prehistoric date was excavated in 2020 under licence 17E0292 by Muireann Ní Cheallacháin for IAC Archaeology during construction phase of residential development by Cairn Homes PLC. Cropmark of large enclosure visible on Google Earth orthoimage taken 12/07/2013 which also shows the presence of two ring-ditches (WI013-128/129----) inside the enclosure which were also fully excavated. All of these features were excavated in Area 1A which also included the remains of a ploughed out burnt spread, a flat cemetery (WI013-130----), a large enclosure ditch forming a plectrum-shaped enclosure, multiple token cremation burial pits, two ring-ditches (one with internal features), and a large stone-lined kiln, as well as isolated pits, postholes and later agricultural features. Excavation was carried out in Area 1A following the identification of crop marks within the southwest corner of the proposed development a geophysical survey was carried out by Joanna Leigh in 2015 (Licence 15R0124). Detailed gradiometer survey in this area identified two clear circular ditch-type responses, correlating with the location of several curving crop marks, measuring c. 11.25m and 12.25m in diameter and several other responses of potential interest. The circular ditches appear to be contained within a larger ill-defined circular feature (possible enclosure). Following on from the geophysical survey, a programme of testing was undertaken in 2017 by Rob Lynch and Enda Lydon of IAC under licence no. 17E0292 (Lynch and Lydon 2017). Three areas of archaeology were identified in the testing assessment (Archaeological Areas 1–3). The remains are likely to be Bronze Age in date and are similar to other sites that have been recorded within the surrounding landscape. The core of Archaeological Area 1 comprises the two circular anomalies, an outer enclosure and associated features as identified in the geophysical survey and aerial photography in the southwestern portion of the site. Monument consisted of 'a large penannular enclosure truncated at W by a ring-ditch (WI013-128----) that was in turn truncated by a later kiln (WI013-132---) and large pit to the E and by a modern sand extraction quarry to the NW. The sand and gravel quarry destroyed the NW quadrant of the ditch. The enclosure was accessed through a causewayed entrance (Wth 2m) at S. Quite degraded fragments of animal bone were recovered throughout the ditch fills while a small amount of burnt bone was also recovered. The artefacts retrieved from the ditch fills suggest a possible later prehistoric date for the enclosure. Four pits with in-situ funerary vessels were recorded within the penannular enclosure, external of the two ring-ditches. Pit C311 was located c. 2.5m to the northeast of ring-ditch C343 and it contained an inverted encrusted urn' (Ní Cheallacháin and Spencer 2020, 13-15). See attached Google earth orthoimage Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 10 November 2020