County: Leitrim Site name: DRUMSNA-JAMESTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 31:69, 32:54 Licence number: 94E0051
Author: Hilary Opie
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Other
ITM: E 600051m, N 797013m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.922480, -7.999220
Trial trenching was carried out at five possible sites along the proposed Drumsna-Jamestown by-pass scheme over a three-week period between April 18 and May 6, 1994.
1. Annaduff, Possible monastic remains SMR 32:54
Two churches survive to the south of the roadtake; a modern Church of Ireland building c. 45m south of the roadtake and an older 16th-/17th-century church c. 100m to the south. This is presumed to be on the site of the ancient abbey of Annaduff referred to in the Annals of the Four Masters. It is possible the extent of the old monastery may have extended into the area of the roadtake. In addition a number of low earthworks were noted in the field to the north-west of the older church.
Six trial trenches were dug along the roadtake. Charcoal flecks, a lens of burning and a clay pipe bowl were observed but no finds or features of archaeological importance were uncovered.
2. Drumsna Enclosure / ringfort SMR 31:69
Clear surface remains of a ringfort, c. 35m in diameter, are visible in the field to the west of the roadtake. The bank and any possible ditch would have been clear of the disturbance corridor by c. 5-10m. A well is located to the east of the ringfort, also outside the take.
Five trial trenches were dug inside the roadtake to check for any outlying associated activity with the ringfort. No archaeological finds or features were recovered from any of the trenches. In particular there was no sign of an outlying ditch.
3. Kildorragh, Possible settlement platform
Surface remains of a roughly circular raised area, c. 32m in diameter, were visible, lying on the shores of the river Shannon and within the roadtake.
Eleven trenches were dug on the raised area itself and on the lower lying area surrounding it. None of these produced any finds or features of archaeological importance and it would appear that this raised mound is a naturally occurring feature and not a man-made, archaeological feature.
4. Kiltycarney, Possible enclosure
This site was represented by a curved field boundary within the roadtake, suggesting a possible enclosure. However, there were no surface remains surviving upon investigation; the field boundaries and associated buildings had already been removed by machine.
Eight trenches were dug with evidence of the curving field boundary being picked up in three of them. However, modern pottery, drain pipe fragments and barbed wire were found near the base of the ditch suggesting this was of recent date and not part of an older enclosure.
5. Tully, Settlement platform
Surface remains of a circular settlement platform, c. 20 x 25m in diameter, are visible outside of the roadtake. It lies on the shores of the river Shannon approx. 9m to the south of the disturbance corridor.
Five trenches were dug to the north of the site—within the disturbance corridor—to check for any associated archaeological activity. Evidence of a French drain was found in Trench 5 while a recently cut council drain produced evidence of a previously cut box drain and French drain within it. These do not appear to be associated with the settlement platform to the south. Modern pottery, glass and clay pipe were observed but no archaeological finds or features directly associated with the settlement platform were observed.
16 Ormond Sq., Dublin 7, for Valerie Keeley-Schmidt
