1999:856 - ATHLONE WESTSIDE MAIN DRAINAGE SCHEME, Westmeath

The Athlone Westside Main Drainage Scheme was situated on the western periphery of Athlone town. The project area was bounded to the east by a canal, part of which forms the western extent of the zone of archaeological potential associated with the town. The only known site of archaeological/historical interest within the project area is part of a 'fortifications site' in Athlone South td, SMR 29:11. This was part of an extensive tete-de-point defence system of eight gun emplacements, behind moats and ramparts linked by sunken pathways, constructed in 1803 to c. 1817. Six of the gun emplacement sites and their associated magazines, guardrooms etc. were within the project area. By 1912 these had been incorporated into a golf-course, and they were largely demolished by 1952. 'The Batteries' now contains a number of housing estates, schools etc. One section of wall is the only extant remains of the former fortifications.

Monitoring commenced in early February and consisted, initially, of the inspection of engineering trial-pit excavations, which aided in the formulation of the overall monitoring policy for the scheme.

Parts of the scheme were along existing roads, many of which proved to have the basal remains of a peat layer under the road formation material, with the greater part in a green-field area. This area consisted of marshy ground, some of which was prone to flooding, as a consequence of which the pipes were routed along a piled superstructure.

The only feature of note was the remains of a wall foundation uncovered in the 'Batteries' area. This was 0.8m wide and stood up to 0.6m high. The location and line of the wall would indicate that it was associated with the fortifications mentioned above. No other features or structures were identified within the area of the project, and a number of post-medieval sherds of pottery were recovered.