1999:780 - BALLINCAR, Sligo

Pre-development testing was carried out on 24 November 1999 at this site at Ballincar townland, Co. Sligo. The development consisted of the realignment of the existing Sligo–Rosses Point road (R291). This involved the construction of a single-lane, undivided carriageway, 1.9km long and 5–88m wide. An enclosure is adjacent to the proposed development. The site was on a south-west- and west-facing slope in grassland, along the north shore of Sligo Bay.

Monitoring of topsoil-stripping along two separate sections of the R291 during realignment works in 1998 (Excavations 1998, 180, 98E0390) and 1999 (see No. 779, Excavations 1999) had already taken place, in accordance with the impact assessment recommendations. Four trial-trenches were excavated by machine to test that section of the proposed road realignment closest to the monument to the north-east. The four trenches were 19.1–19.5m long, 0.8–1.3m wide and 0.3–1.3m deep.

The testing revealed natural, undisturbed stratigraphy in three of the trenches. The testing in the trench closest to the monument revealed a dark brown subsoil, directly below the topsoil and above boulder clay, which contained occasional to moderate amounts of animal bone fragments and shell and a moderate amount of stones. This layer was up to 0.6m thick and 5.8m long and was revealed in the north-east half of the trench only, at the closest point of the trenching to the ringfort. Occasional to moderate animal bone fragments and cockle/mussel shells were visible within this subsoil. These would appear to be the remains of domestic refuse from the ringfort.

Further to the testing, it was recommended that all topsoil-stripping before groundworks be monitored. All groundworks will be 1–2m further away from the monument than the trenches were.

Purcell House, Oranmore, Co. Galway