House - indeterminate date

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on southern bank of a small stream. The monument lies close to the foot of slope on the southern side of a short but broad, flat-bottomed valley that drains towards E. The island’s North Road (from the harbour to the lighthouse) crosses the valley 37m further downslope to E. A fulacht fia (MA075-030----) lies 28.5m to W.

What is visible is a partially sunken area, subrectangular in plan (5m NNE–SSW, c. 5.9m ESE–WNW) that is open towards E. Its southern, western and northern sides are formed by a steep well-defined scarp, only 0.5–0.8m high above the interior along the southern and western sides but up to 2.4m high at one point on its northern side. Its height here is probably supplemented by the presence of an earthen bank that runs along the southern side of the adjacent stream. Little or no trace of its limits are discernible on the eastern (downslope) side, save at SE angle. In fact, there is a wide gap (Wth 2.5m) here in which a number of large boulders lie. A small natural channel, which drains the interior, also exits at this point. Possible traces of a rough boulder revetment to the scarp (H 0.5m) are visible along the western side and at the south-western corner. Save for a few tufts of heather, the ‘floor ’ of the interior is fairly level and measures 3.6m internally on NNE–SSW axis.
While the above remains could be read as those of a small quarry pit, its siting and regular shape suggest that it is more likely to be a dwelling space or shelter.

The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated.

Date of upload: 29 November 2018

References

Gosling, P., Manning, C. and Waddell, J. (eds.) 2007 New Survey of Clare Island, Volume 5: Archaeology. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy.