1. Review: In the Lowlands of South Galway: archaeological excavations on
the N18 Oranmore to Gort National Road Scheme
Originally posted online on 25 January 2012 at rmchapple.blogspot.com
(http://rmchapple.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/review-in-lowlands-of-south-galway.html)
Finn Delaney & John Tierney. The National Roads Authority, Dublin, 2011. x+225pp &
CDr. ISBN 978-0-9564180-4-3. £22.26 (via Amazon) or €25 (via Wordwell Books).
In The Lowlands of South Galway is the seventh in the National Roads
Authority Scheme Monographs series. In my review of the previous volume (Of Troughs
and Tuyères), I stated that since its inception in 2007, the series has established itself as
a benchmark in high quality academic publishing. This volume is a fine addition to the
series and, if anything, sets the bar higher for future contributions. In
the Introduction, Finn Delaney, Jerry O’Sullivan and Maurizio Toscano describe their
study area as ‘a self-contained sort of place with a strongly defined character that
derives in part from the landscape and in part from its history.’ In preparing a review
such as this, I do strive to be as even-handed and professional as possible, but this, the
first line of the introduction, was a ‘you had me at hello’ moment. Although I’ve not lived
in the area for over twenty years, this is where I grew up, where a large part of my family
still live (and are buried), and where I first developed my interest in archaeology. Even
simply listing the major families of the area - the Gregorys, Martyns, Persses, Shaw-
Taylors, O’Shaughnessys (from whom I am descended), and the O’Heynes - is deeply
redolent to me of my background, my family, and my past. To say that I am biased in
favour of this book may be an overstatement, but I have been excited about the
archaeology of this area since I was a child and I have looked forward to reading this
book since I first heard that it was coming to print. Perhaps I am a little biased, but at
least I’m honest about it! Back to the introduction: the authors describe the project to
construct approximately 28km of dual carriageway from near Oranmore to the outskirts

2. of Gort. They provide succinct introductions to the landscape and settlement history -
from the Neolithic to the 19th century. This is followed a very brief synopsis of the 23
archaeological excavations carried out along the route by Eachtra Archaeological
Projects. The chapter concludes with a description of the Geographical Information
System (GIS) employed on the project, the Eachtra Archaeological Projects Office
Database (EAPOD). While this topic may only be fascinating to a relatively small
number of professional archaeological practitioners, its direct relevance for readers of
this book is that it is the means by which the large number of detailed site plans and
wider distribution maps were produced, along with being the repository of the data by
which the detailed spatial analyses were undertaken.
In Chapter 2, Burnt Mounds in the Bronze Age Landscape (Finn Delaney and
John Tierney with Maurizio Toscano) the results of some 12 excavations are presented.
The dating of these sites in keeping with other sites of their type, with radiocarbon
determinations stretching across the entire period from Early to Late Bronze Age. As the
authors point out, the significance of this group lies in the paucity of excavated examples
in county Galway - only 18 had been excavated in the county prior to 2006. While they
have become somewhat ubiquitous in other parts of Ireland, the addition of twelve
published examples to the known corpus from Galway is definitely welcomed. The
chapter continues with a detailed spatial analysis of the sites, examining their
distribution in relation to other recorded prehistoric monuments. Interestingly,
concentrations of ring barrows centred on Derrydonnell North and the well-known
Dunkellin barrow group appear to be adjacent, but not co-terminus with defined groups
of burnt mounds. As the authors note the subjective nature of such comparisons of
distribution maps, they set out to use more objective (or at least, less humanly-
subjective) methods available through various techniques of spatial analysis.
Unsurprisingly, there is a confirmation of previously noted trends, such as location of
sites near water. Analyses of density and clustering indicate that the burnt mounds
should not be seen as isolated sites, but as part of an integrated Bronze Age landscape.
Further analyses of the morphology and taphonomy of the excavated sites follow. In all
cases, the stone type used on these sites was the locally available limestone. While it has
been suggested (Grogan 2007) that the use of limestone would provide calcium
hydroxide, it is argued that the amount created would be insufficient to poison the food.
One of the excavated troughs, at Ballyglass West, showed evidence for having been
provided with a stone lining, though it may have been further augmented with wooden
elements and clay daub. Other sites revealed stakeholes in the bases of the troughs,
interpreted as evidence for wattle linings. While animal bone is infrequently recovered
from burnt mound sites, it is incorrect to imagine that they are wholly devoid of it
(Tourunen 2008). Pig teeth were recovered from Ballyglass West; single cattle teeth
were recovered from both Caherweelder 2 and 3; while a cow horn and a portion of shed
deer antler were recovered at Moyveela 2. The poorly preserved site at Coldwood
produced both cattle and sheep bones. Similarly, only a few lithics were recovered, all of
which are regarded as chance or residual finds. A possible Early Mesolithic chert blade
was recovered at Ballyglass West, while at Caherweelder 6 a Late Mesolithic chert blade
was recovered. Neolithic flakes were also recovered from sites at Coldwood,
Caherweelder 5, and Ballinillaun 1.

3. The Archaeology of Early Medieval Uí Fiachrach Aidhne (Finn Delaney with
Maurizio Toscano) examines the excavated remains of levelled cashel sites at
Derrydonnell More and Drumharsna South, along with a ‘cemetery settlement’ site at
Owenbristy. The chapter first sets the scene by examining the physical influences of the
local landscape on site choice of site location. This is followed by a thorough review of
the ringforts and cashels of the area, firmly placing them within their physical and
political landscapes. Further geospatial analyses examine clustering of sites to identify
physical concentrations of sites, along with the identification of trends in altitude,
aspect etc. One result of particular interest is the observation that there is a clear
relationship between the positioning of ringforts and cashels in relationship to early
ecclesiastical sites. The church sites were seen to be deliberately positioned at the
peripheries of the main enclosure groupings, while actively avoiding both isolation and
the centres of enclosure clusters. While the authors stress the tentative nature of these
results and the need for further study, I find them fascinating, not least as they appear to
be in contrast to results from my own work on the ringforts of the Loop Head Peninsula,
Co. Clare. Here I examined similar aspects of location, morphology and relationship to
early ecclesiastical church sites to those undertaken for the south Galway area
(Chapple 2003, 2011). My conclusions were that the church establishments were
initially pioneering foundations in a relatively unpopulous landscape. This allowed them
to amass comparatively significant estates prior to the later development of more
secular development. However, in the light of recent research carried out by the Early
Medieval Archaeology Project, as part of the INSTAR programme, the traditional
dichotomy of ‘monks in monasteries and everyone else in raths’ must be reassessed.
Chapter 4, Rural Settlement in the Early Modern Landscape (John Tierney with
Maurizio Toscano), deals with the excavation of five early modern sites on the road
scheme. At Moyveela 3 a pre-Famine clachan was investigated, while two cottages were
identified at Roevehagh 2. At Lavally a tenant farmstead, inhabited until the early
20th century, was excavated, along with two community wells at Ballyglass West and
Caherweelder 4. In particular, the reconstruction drawing of the Moyveela 3 clachan
truly brings the site to life. To my mind, it demonstrates all that is best about thoughtful
artistic interpretations and their ability to capture the informed imagination of the
reader.
Chapter 5 represents the ‘main event’ of this volume with its description of the
excavation and analysis of the ‘cemetery settlement’ at Owenbristy (Owenbristy -
Cashel and Cemetery). While short summaries of the findings at this intriguing site
have been available for a time (Delaney et al. 2009; Lehane et al. 2010), this represents
the definitive account of the site. The original excavation director, John Lehane,
provides a comprehensive summary of the excavation. This includes pre-enclosure
activity during the Beaker period, through the main cashel and cemetery phases, and
into the later burials of the 13th to 15th centuries. A brief review of the recovered
artefacts is also appended and include short entries on lithics, quern stones, blue glass
beads, bone pins, metal artefacts, along with modern pottery etc. Of the metal artefacts,
the majority were of iron, with small numbers of copper alloy, brass and bronze also
being represented. A terminal of a bronze brooch decorated with simple, cast interlace
was recovered. Of particular significance was the recovery of a plain iron neck ring from

4. around the neck of one of the burials. The skeleton (Sk70) was later radiocarbon dated
to the mid 6th to mid 7th centuries cal AD (1457±36 BP, UB-11248). Margaret McCarthy
provides an analysis of the animal bone from the site, demonstrating that the majority
of the species represented were of cattle, sheep/goat, and pig, but that horse, dog and
deer were also represented. While some discrepancies are noted in comparison to other
‘cemetery settlement’ sites, the dominance of cattle is an emerging constant. This is
contrasted to contemporary ringfort assemblages that lack the same high percentages of
cattle remains. McCarthy suggests that, in the developing paradigm, where ‘cemetery
settlements’ are perceived as foci of local power and wealth, the assemblages represent
meat provisioning for the social elite who visited these sites at times of burial. Jonny
Geber presents the results of an analysis of the human remains from Owenbristy. Of the
75 burials dated to the Early Christian period, a number of conclusions may be drawn.
In common with other sites and assemblages, the highest risk areas for mortality were
during youth and young adulthood, and after 40 years of age. The mean stature of the
male population was 1.73m (5ft 8in), while the mean female stature was 1.60m (5ft 3in).
Various dental and skeletal pathologies were identified. Caries was only present in
adults, though young adult and older adult females had the highest occurrences, which
may be related to gender differences in diet. Calculus (tartar) was present on the teeth of
all adults, and approximately half of the non-adult population. A number of
degenerative joint diseases, including vertebral osteophytosis, intervertebral
osteochondrosis, and osteoarthritis were also identified. Isotope analysis of five Early
Christian skeletons suggested that the population relied on a terrestrial diet. High δ15N
values among infants and young children are taken to indicate the practice of
breastfeeding. Comparison of these values across the age groups suggests that children
were regularly weaned around their second or between their second and third year.
While this is an uncommonly late age in contemporary Western European society, it is
still the usual practice in developing countries and is approximately the length promoted
by the World Health Organisation. Of the Early Christian population, 22% of the
adolescents, 10% of the adult females, and 31% of the adult males suffered violent
deaths - all of which are much higher rates than other contemporary assemblages. One
of the adolescents (13 to 15 years of age) had been repeatedly stabbed and eventually
(after two unsuccessful blows) decapitated. Two of the females had been decapitated,
one with at least six further facial stab wounds. In this latter case, the evidence suggests
that she attempted to fight off her attacker while she lay on the ground, frantically
moving her head from side to side. One of the adult males was decapitated, though this
appeared to have taken at least three blows. A number of other adult males displayed
evidence of having received wounds from bladed weapons, such as swords. One
individual received 127 independent cut wounds as his corpse was decapitated and
quartered. Elizabeth O’Brien examines the context and content of the cemetery, drawing
on Geber’s work on the Osteology of the population. She concludes that the Owenbristy
site gives us an overview into life and death in Early Christian Ireland, especially in the
period from the 7th to the 9th centuries. In the final portion of this chapter (Owenbristy:
towards an understanding) Finn Delaney with Zachary Silke examine the historical
background of the site and ponder the exact form and function of this ‘cemetery
settlement’. As an aside, I would draw the reader’s attention to the excellent
reconstruction drawing of Owenbristy. Both of these reconstruction drawings are by
Dan Tietzsch-Tyler who, incidentally, provided the beautiful reconstruction drawings

5. for Ann Lynch’s monograph Tintern Abbey, Co. Wexford: Cistercians and Colcloughs.
Excavations 1982-2007 (see my review: here).
Chapter 6 provides Excavation Summaries of all the sites investigated as part of this
project. While the entries are brief, they are comprehensive with clear and concise
information given on every feature excavated. The sites are comprehensively illustrated
with post-excavation plans, along with on-site and finds photography. Personally, I
would have liked to have seen some representative section drawings or profiles through
some features - especially the burnt mound troughs - but that’s probably just me!
Chapter 7 details the Artefacts and Plant Remains. Sara Camplese and Finn
Delaney provide a catalogue of selected prehistoric and medieval finds, expanding on
the brief notices given in the body of the text. Farina Sternke discusses the significance
of the lithic artefacts. Among the Mesolithic and Neolithic pieces noted earlier, there are
brief comments on lignite bracelet fragments, hones and a spindle whorl from
Owenbristy, along with a possible naturally-formed crucible from Drumharsna South.
Mary Dillon and John Tierney discuss the charred plant remains. At the burnt mounds,
only the site at Ballyglass West produced charred plant remains. Here a single cereal
grain and a small number of knotweed seeds were found. Similarly, the three major
Early Christian sites at Owenbristy, Derrydonnell More, and Drumharsna South
produced relatively few charred plant remains. Small amounts of wheat, barley, and oat
grains were recovered, along with a weed seed and a sloe stone. At the burnt mound
sites the recovered charcoal was mostly hazel (35%), with Pomoideae type (16%), oak
(14%), and ash (13%) also being represented. At the Early Christian sites charcoal was
generally sparse. At Derrydonnell More the most abundant charcoal types were pine and
ash, while willow was most commonly recovered at Owenbristy.
Appendix 1 lists some 79 radiocarbon determinations commissioned for the project,
while Appendix 2 provides a catalogue of the burials from Owenbristy. The volume also
comes with a CDr containing all of the original ‘grey literature’ site reports. While I have
not taken the opportunity to investigate all of them, a select perusal indicates that they
contain the full texts of all the appropriate specialist reports etc. In my review of the Of
Troughs and Tuyères volume, I expressed my ambivalence with the CDr format and
how it may be more easily superseded by emerging technology than we may care to
admit, leaving us with valuable, but unreadable, data. I still see no clear way forward
where these large volumes of data may be easily and cost-effectively presented and still
remain ‘future proofed’ against the tide of changing technology.
I would also like to give special notice to the quality of the photography in the volume.
Every facet of the photography is superb, from the on-site images to the finds
photography. However, it is the additional photographs of nearby sites, outside of the
road-take, but still of interest and importance, that I found particularly arresting. Their
inclusion demonstrates a wider commitment to not just communicating the
archaeological discoveries themselves, but to placing them within their wider landscape
and cultural contexts.

6. Obviously, this volume is a must for any student of Early Christian settlement and
burial, along with anyone interested in the burnt mound phenomenon, not to mention
our early modern past. It is also a must-have volume for anyone with an interest in this
‘self-contained sort of place’. Beyond that it, together with the other volumes in the NRA
monograph series, forms one of the jigsaw pieces in a new archaeology of Ireland -
perhaps one of the few lasting legacies of the Celtic tiger experience. Perhaps it is too
much hyperbole to suggest that when the ghost estates have been demolished and the
road network is again considered insufficient for the needs of the population, that the
knowledge and scholarship gained from these excavations will continue to inform,
educate and inspire. Then again, maybe it’s not!
References:
Chapple, R. M. 2003 ‘Ringfort morphology and distribution on the Loop Head
peninsula, Co. Clare’ North Munster Antiquarian Journal 43, 53-74.
Chapple, R. M. 2011 A statistical analysis of ringfort distribution and morphology on the
Loop Head Peninsula, Co. Clare. Belfast.
Delaney, F., Lehane, J., Keefe, K. & O'Sullivan, G. 2009 ‘Medieval life and death by the
'broken river'’ Seanda 4, 36-39.
Grogan, E. 2007 ‘General evaluation and assessment of the excavation results
1: fulachta fiadh and related sites’ in Grogan, E., O’Donnell, L. & Johnston, P. The
Bronze Age Landscapes of the Pipeline to the West. Dublin.
Lehane, J., Muñiz Perez, M., O'Sullivan, J. & Wilkins, B. 2010 ‘Three cemetery-
settlement excavations in county Galway at Carrowkeel, Treanbaun and Owenbristy’ in
Corlett, C. & Potterton, M. (eds.) Death and burial in Early Medieval Ireland in the
light of recent archaeological excavations. Dublin, 139-156.
Tourunen, A. 2007 ‘No bones about it: burnt mounds along the N9/N10’ Seanda 2, 70-
71.