2024:375 - CHARLESTOWN: Lowpark, Mayo
County: Mayo
Site name: CHARLESTOWN: Lowpark
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 24E0327
Author: Angela Wallace
Author/Organisation Address: Pier Road, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 547565m, N 801587m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.960922, -8.799013
A program of archaeological testing was carried out in advance of development of an athletics training facility to the south of St Attracta’s National School, Charlestown, County Mayo. The zones of archaeological notification of Ringfort MA063-004001 and children’s burial ground MA063-004002 are within 10m of the western boundary of this site.
The topsoil on site presented as mid-brown sandy silt and the natural as orangey light brown-mid brown sandy silt with a high stone content. This was consistent across all test trenches. The trenches closest to the ringfort, T1, T2 and T3, showed minor signs of disturbance and possible redeposition. This may be the result of local minor drainage works and boundary fencing. It was not possible to excavate Trench 4 due to health and safety concerns associated with machinery access because of its proximity to St Attracta’s School. Trenches 5-9 appeared completely undisturbed with very sterile fill, containing the very occasional sherd of modern pottery.
No archaeological features, finds or deposits were discovered during this program of archaeological testing.