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AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

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Galway<br />

Ballybrit, Co. Galway<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure.<br />

Grid Reference: F33642740 (133645/227406)<br />

SMR No: GA082-013001<br />

Excavation Licence: N/A<br />

Excavation Duration/Year: July 1971.<br />

Site Director: J. Waddell (University College, Galway).<br />

<strong>The</strong> site consists <strong>of</strong> an enclosure set on an area <strong>of</strong> flat land. It averaged 56m in diameter,<br />

with a surrounding bank approximately 8m wide and 1m high (Fig. 149). <strong>The</strong> site was<br />

partially destroyed during expansion <strong>of</strong> the racecourse at Ballybrit.<br />

Excavation revealed the corner <strong>of</strong> a stone-built rectangular building (Fig. 150), and another<br />

rectangular house (12m by 6.5m) was indicated in the centre <strong>of</strong> the enclosure which was unexcavated.<br />

It was not possible to date these structures (the portion excavated was built<br />

directly onto the limestone bedrock), and they may post-date the primary occupation phase.<br />

A small semi-circular enclosure 25m to the west <strong>of</strong> the main enclosure was also excavated.<br />

With the exception <strong>of</strong> one sherd <strong>of</strong> post-medieval pottery, this enclosure revealed no<br />

evidence for human occupation. No occupation layer was identified for the main enclosure<br />

either, although a number <strong>of</strong> finds were recovered from this area including post-medieval<br />

pottery, a fragment <strong>of</strong> a whetstone, and an Iron Age bronze spear-butt (in the make-up <strong>of</strong><br />

the enclosure bank).<br />

Fig. 149: Plan <strong>of</strong> enclosures at Ballybrit, Co. Galway (after Waddell 1971, 74).<br />

295

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