1995:128 - TUAM, Galway

This project involved archaeological monitoring and pre-development testing along the route of two pipelines which formed part of the Tuam Regional Water Supply Scheme (Contract No. 2). The two pipelines involved were:(a) the main water pipeline, which ran between a reservoir site at Knockacarrigeen Hill (almost 7km west-south-west of Tuam) and terminated at a water-tower site in Tuam town;(b) an overflow pipe, which ran north for over 1.5km, from the reservoir site on Knockacarrigeen Hill to Belclare turlough (in Turloughnaroyey townland). This work was carried out between 30 January and 3 October 1995.

The Archaeological Services Unit, UCG, was contracted by Galway County Council to monitor all of the topsoil stripping along the routes of the pipelines and to monitor the trenching during pipe-laying operations at a number of locations along both pipelines. Pre-development testing was also carried out at a number of locations, where the pipeline ran close to or adjacent to known archaeological sites. These locations were:(1) adjacent to the site of Claretuam Castle (SMR 43:49), located 2.4km east-north-east of the reservoir site in Claretuam townland;(2) at the site of a field system (SMR 43:112), located 300m east of the reservoir site in Knockacarrigeen townland;(3) between the sites of three enclosures and an extant ringfort (SMR Nos 43:105, 106 and 107), located between 100m and 300m east of the reservoir site, on the north-eastern slopes of Knockacarrigen Hill in Knockacarigeen townland;(4) adjacent to ecclesiastical remains (SMR 43:114) in Pollaturk townland, located 400m further down the north-eastern flanks of Knockacarrigeen Hill.

The removal of topsoil along the pipeline corridor and monitoring of pipe-laying operations at a number of locations along the pipelines revealed no archaeological structures or deposits. It did, however, yield isolated finds of modern and post-medieval date, including pottery sherds and fragments of clay pipes and glass.

Pre-development testing at the site of Claretuam Castle produced sufficient evidence for a full excavation of the pipeline corridor to take place subsequently at that location (see above, No. 115). Nine trenches were opened during the testing, which produced 29 contexts, of which 23 were disturbed and two were sterile. Finds included post-medieval and modern pottery sherds and glass fragments, clay pipe fragments, a fragment of a rotary quern, oyster shell, animal bone fragments and a small amount of charcoal.

Eighteen trenches were excavated, sixteen of them by machine, during the pre-development testing in Knockacarrigeen and Pollaturk townlands. Forty-seven contexts were apparent, mostly of natural subsoil, boulder clay and bedrock. No artefacts were recovered and nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.

Oranmore Industrial Park, Claregalway Rd, Oranmore, Co. Galway