County: Donegal Site name: KILL, Dunfanaghy
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 94E0026
Author: Gerry Walsh, Road Design, Mayo Co. Council
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 602151m, N 936683m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 55.177425, -7.966224
A late medieval church and graveyard is located south of Dunfanaghy in the townland of Kill. It is described in the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, (Lacy B., et al, Donegal 1983, 336). A proposed new dwelling was to be located due north-west of it. When the site was initially visited by the author no surface archaeological remains were apparent. Pre-development archaeological testing was undertaken on March 5. Eight trial trenches were excavated using a small mechanical digger. Due to a concentration of rock outcrop on the southern side of the site, it sloped from south to north. The eight trial trenches were excavated down to the natural boulder clay and/or bedrock. Trenches 1, 2, 4 and 8 were located near the church. Trench 3 was located in the area of the proposed septic tank and associated sewer pipe line. Trench 5 and the northern end of Trench 4 were located on the site of the proposed dwelling. Trenches 6 and 7 were situated across the new proposed access road to the house.
Trench 1
This measured 23.4m long north-south and was 1.5m wide. At the northern end of the trench the natural rock was protruding through the surface in places. Generally, a 0.2m thick layer comprising the sod and the topsoil overlay the bedrock at the southern end of the trench. Downslope at the northern end of the trench the topsoil was up to 0.3m thick and overlay the natural orange boulder clay and bedrock.
Trench 2
This was 23.4m long north-south and 1.5m wide. The stratigraphy within the trench was similar to that of Trench 1.
Trench 3
This was 23.4m long east-west. In the area of the proposed septic tank at the eastern end of the trench it was 3m wide. Here a 0.3m thick layer of topsoil overlay a grey natural clay and bedrock. At the western end of the trench a 0.3m thick layer of peaty topsoil overlay a grey natural clay and the bedrock.
Trench 4
This was 34m long north-south and 1.5m wide. The stratigraphy within the southern end of the trench was similar to that of Trenches 1 and 2. At the northern end of the trench a 0.5m thick layer of peaty topsoil overlay the orange boulder clay and bedrock.
Trench 5
This was perpendicular to Trench 4. It measured 12.6m east-west and was 2m wide. The stratigraphy within the eastern end of the trench was similar to that in the northern end of Trench 4 but at the western end of the trench the peaty topsoil was only 0.3m thick.
Trench 6
This was 25m long and 1.5m wide. The topsoil which directly overlay the orange boulder clay and the bedrock varied in thickness from 0.3m to 0.1m as one went from south to north in the trench.
Trench 7
This was 13.6m long and 1.5m wide. At the southern end of the trench a 0.2m layer of topsoil overlay the bedrock while in the remainder of the trench the topsoil was only 0.1m thick.
Trench 8
This was excavated perpendicular to the west of Trench 4. It was 25m long and 1.5m wide. The stratigraphy within the trench consisted of a thin layer of topsoil (0.1m - 0.15m thick) which directly overlay the bedrock.
No archaeological remains, deposits or small finds were recovered from any of the trial trenches.
Castlebar, Co. Mayo
