2024:437 - Lavy Beg, Mayo

The test excavation of a site in advance of its development at Lavy Beg townland, on the south-eastern outskirts of Charlestown, in County Mayo, was carried out over five days between 10 and 14 June 2024.  The project consisted of the construction of sixty-six dwelling houses. The testing was necessary due to the size of the proposed development site (2.74 hectares) and the scale of the proposed development.

The proposed development was located across two fields of pasture, just east of a modern housing estate. A line of partially constructed bungalows was located in the western half of the site. No features of archaeological significance were visible within the proposed development site. There were no recorded monuments within or in the immediate vicinity of the site.

The testing consisted of the excavation of eighteen trenches, located to best cover the area of the proposed development that was accessible. The trenches measured 77.6m, 59.1m, 55m, 49m, 59.2m, 60m, 50.4m, 51.3m, 49.8m, 50.5m, 30m, 45m, 45.5m, 45.2m, 36m, 60.4m, 75m and 74.6m long, 1.6-1.9m wide and 0.15-1m deep.

The pre-development testing revealed topsoil above modern fill and a stoned road, both associated with the partially constructed bungalows, a burnt spread and natural subsoils. The burnt spread extended for 8.3m, at 0.3-0.6m below the surface.  Its location near the base of a slope and near a water source may indicate that it is the remains of a fulacht fiadh. A  number of modern land drains were uncovered in the central area of the site.  Modern artefacts were recovered from the topsoil and the spoil, as well as two stamped clay pipe bowls.