County: Sligo Site name: CARROWHUBBUCK SOUTH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 16:15 Licence number: 99E0241
Author: Richard Crumlish, Archaeological Services Unit Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 528491m, N 830775m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.220872, -9.096496
Pre-development testing was carried out on 25 and 26 May 1999 in response to a condition of planning for a development consisting of the construction of seventeen houses and associated services at Carrowhubbuck South, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo. This condition was included because the proposed development was adjacent to a possible passage tomb. Three further development sites at this location had been tested by Suzanne Zajac in 1998 (Excavations 1998, 180, 98E0342). The site overlooks Killala Bay and is situated on a south-west-facing slope in an area of which 75% has been backfilled extensively in recent years. The remaining area of the site consists of fair grazing. A stream flows roughly east-west through the centre of the site. To the south-east is the possible megalithic tomb, visible on a rise.
Four trial-trenches were excavated by machine during the testing, positioned to best cover the area of the proposed development. The stratigraphy consisted of backfill and topsoil above a sterile marl subsoil and bedrock.
Three modern pottery sherds were found in the topsoil. The backfill contained modern inclusions and artefacts, e.g. plastic, tyres and red brick, and was obviously laid down in recent years. The testing revealed no archaeological evidence. The site had been levelled up over the last number of years, and below the backfill was natural, undisturbed stratigraphy.
Purcell House, Oranmore, Co. Galway
