Midden

The National Monuments Service's description

On the W side of Doonbeg Bay on the N side of a triangular headland and c. 20m W of Doonmore castle (CL046-019002-). A shell midden (L 2.95m; T 0.12-0.22m; D below surface 0.10m) comprising a densely compacted layer of limpet shells with occasional dog whelks and oyster shells exposed in the N-facing profile. A few oyster shells are exposed c. 0.27m below the main concentration. Two other shell middens (CL046-038---- and CL046-041----) lie 6m to the E and 7m to the W respectively. Banks in the adjacent field were noted as a possibly promontory fort (Casey 1999) (CL046-019001-). Middens were noted at this location in 2008 in advance of proposed development at Doonbeg pier and the banks were interpreted as a possible bawn relating to the castle (Coyne, Darmody and O’Mahony 2008, 25-7). Further reports on the middens were furnished in 2014-15 (pers. comm. John Tracey) when it was thought they were newly exposed due to severe storms.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 26 May 2015

References

Casey, M. 1999 The coastal promontory forts of Ireland. A survey of counties Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Clare. Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.

Coyne, F., Darmody, N. and O'Mahony, B. 2008 Archaeological impact statement in advance of a proposed development at Doonbeg Pier, Doonbeg, Co. Clare. Unpublished archaeological report. National Monuments Section Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.