2022:900 - STRANDHILL, Carrowbunnaun, Sligo

Monitoring was carried out at Scoil Asicus Naofa, Carrowbunnaun, Strandhill, Co. Sligo as an extension to testing previously carried out under this licence number. The site is located on the southern side of the town c. 0.7kms from the shoreline and between the Strandhill Golf Course which is in the sand dunes just west and south-west of the school and Knocknarea at the south-east. The development lies within the Zone of Notification of an earthwork, SL013-033. A 20m exclusion zone around the recorded monument was demarcated in advance of the construction and no works took place on that area.

The stratigraphy across the site consisted of a sod layer approximately 0.2m thick overlying yellow sand up to 0.7m deep. Irregular spreads of dark brown sandy clay with occasional roots and shells were identified at a depth of about 0.4m. These were interpreted as remnants of a buried sod layer, likely formed through natural dune processes. Modern materials such as glass and rusty iron were also found mixed with the sand.

Excavations for the sloped entrance to the site revealed a 3.2m wide feature up to 0.9m deep, followed by the stripping of a 100m long access road. The road was excavated to an average depth of 0.3m, and similar spreads of brown sandy clay were observed, likely caused by root action from cleared vegetation.

The basketball court area, covering 352m², was excavated to varying depths due to the sloping nature of the field, ranging from 0.6m to 1.4m. Plough furrows running south-south-east/north-north-west were identified at a depth of 0.4m. These linear features were U-shaped, measuring 0.3–0.5m wide and 0.15–0.2m deep, with fills similar to the material found along the access road. A raised area of sod, corresponding with a potential field boundary identified during previous testing, was observed but could not be definitively verified during the monitoring process.

Excavations for the classroom extension revealed a small midden at a depth of 0.4–0.5m. The midden contained mid-brown sandy clay with a high concentration of shells and occasional flakes of charcoal, as well as 19th–20th-century ceramic fragments, suggesting a relatively modern origin. In areas near the existing building, heavily disturbed layers were encountered, including tarmac and redeposited orange-brown clay with stones, likely associated with prior construction activities. Modern debris such as rope, plastic, and rusty iron was also found in this area.

No significant archaeological features or deposits were uncovered during the monitoring. The identified features, including plough furrows, midden material, and possible sod layers, reflect historical and modern activity associated with the site’s landscape and agricultural use.