County: Sligo Site name: KNOXSPARK
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 96E0123
Author: John Channing
Site type: Quarry
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 566979m, N 828522m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.204555, -8.506124
This work was carried out to assess the level of truncation caused by unauthorised gravel-quarrying at this site, which lay to the north of that investigated by Charles Mount (Excavations 1994, 78–9, 94E0060) on the southern side of the Owenmore River.
Topsoil removed from the area was located and tested by GeoArch Ltd, using a metal-detector. Modern finds associated with recent music festivals were recovered. Quarrying activity had left an undisturbed ‘finger’ of ground. This was tested, revealing three ditches. These were recorded but not fully excavated since it was possible to extend the preservation area around the main Knoxspark site. The features probably relate to an inland promontory fort identified by Tom Condit and partially excavated by Charles Mount.
Editor’s note: This excavation, though carried out in 1996, was not reported on in time for inclusion in the bulletin for that year.
17 Rowan House, Sussex Road, Dublin 4
