2023:779 - Hightown or Balloughter, Clonfad, Westmeath
County: Westmeath
Site name: Hightown or Balloughter, Clonfad
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WM027-079; WM027-080
Licence number: 23E0506
Author: Tim Coughlan
Author/Organisation Address: IAC Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
Site type: Burnt mounds, linear ditches, enclosure, barrow
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 652777m, N 745509m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.456998, -7.205329
Archaeological testing was carried out over the course of ten days from 26 June 2023 in three separate areas (Blocs A, B and C of the larger development). The trenches targeted the zone of notification for recorded monuments WM027-079 and WM027-080, geophysical anomalies and open green space. Testing revealed five areas of archaeological significance, which have been designated as Archaeological Areas 1-5 (AA1-5). These comprise: –
- AA1 – Linear ditches within the area of a potential enclosure in Field 2 Area A. Not definitively archaeological but retaining some archaeological potential due to nature of the fills. Note: the enclosure as evident in geophysics was not identified
- AA2 – Linear ditches to the east of recorded barrow WM027-049 in Field 4 Area A. Not definitively archaeological and may be associated with drainage but retaining some archaeological potential due to location and stratified nature of fills
- AA3 – Possible shallow barrow-type enclosure, Field 6 Area A. The central enclosed area may represent later disturbance or infilling but may also have an archaeological significance
- AA4 – Burnt mound (fulacht fiadh) activity in Field 6 Area A
- AA5 – Burnt mound (fulacht fiadh) activity in west of Area B
Testing has confirmed that monument WM027-079 (Enclosure) corresponds to a natural hollow infilled with stones in the post-medieval or early modern period and is not of archaeological significance. Testing has not identified anything of archaeological significance in the area of WM027-080 (Enclosure).