Clochan

The National Monuments Service's description

Part of Baile na mBocht (GA110-162----); in a narrow valley overlooked by higher ground to E and W. Described by Kinahan (1869d, 26, no. 5) as 'a group of three mounds which appear to be the relics of a compound Cnocán'. Excavations by Goulden in 1955 (Waddell 1988, 47-52) revealed three conjoined drystone buildings, all roughly circular in plan. The largest, to W (D 7m), had a narrow W and wider E doorway; immediately outside this, to N and S, were two smaller buildings (D 2.4m and 1.8m) separated by a paved area. Two quern-stones found inside E doorway may have acted as spud stones. The roof of W building may have been of thatch while the others were probably corbelled. Finds included quantities of shell, iron fragments and pot sherds. It survives today as a mass of collapsed limestone. (Robinson 1980)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993).

Date of upload: 05 August 2010