2022:480 - KILLOSHEHEEN, Mayo

The test excavation of a site in advance of its development in Killosheheen townland, 300m south-east of the town of Ballinrobe in County Mayo, was carried out on 27 June 2022. The project consisted of the demolition of existing rear extensions and outbuildings and the reinstatement of an old dwelling, now in ruins, to a private dwelling house. The testing was necessary due to the location of a church (MA118-029) 20m east of the development site. The report on the pre-development testing was due to accompany a planning application for the proposed development.

The cottage in ruins was named ‘Killoshine Cottage’ on the historic OS 25-inch map and was included in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (Reg. No. 31311807), which dated it to 1841-1881. Outbuildings to the rear of the cottage dated from the late 19th or 20th centuries. A band of mature deciduous trees and what appeared to be a large overgrown spoil heap were located along the east side of the site.

At least six in-situ burials were uncovered 8m west of the church (RMP No. MA118-029) during monitoring of the Ballinrobe Sewerage Scheme in 1994.

The testing consisted of the excavation of three trenches, located to best cover the area of the proposed development that was accessible. The trenches measured 38.2m, 39.4m and 21.1m long respectively; 1.9–2.1m wide and 0.3–1.7m deep. The spoil from each trench was carefully inspected during the testing.

Testing revealed topsoil above two areas of modern fill above original topsoil, natural subsoils and bedrock. One area of fill contained a large quantity of modern artefacts and was part of the large spoil heap along the east end of the site. The second area of fill was associated with the line of a modern sewer (with associated man-hole), which was visible near the northern end of the site.

Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.