2000:0729 - CORBALLY, Mayo

Testing for archaeological remains was undertaken on the route of the Knock–Claremorris Bypass where it passed in proximity to a ringfort, SMR 91:29. The test area measured 160m by 50m. A mechanical digger was used to strip the test area of sod and topsoil. Three separate areas of archaeological potential were uncovered, a hearth, an area of burnt material and a row of boulders. These areas were investigated by hand.

The hearth was roughly circular in plan; it measured 0.75m in diameter and was 0.1m deep. It was filled with alternate bands of clay and charcoal that represented two episodes of burning. A more recent furrow cut the edge of the hearth. No other features or deposits were associated with the hearth. Samples were retrieved for specialist analysis.

A second area of interest consisted of three patches of highly disturbed burnt material that were distributed across a number of furrows. The presence of a number of chert scrapers and struck pieces of flint and chert indicated that the burnt material was archaeological in origin. Most of the burnt material was redeposited within the furrows.

A straight line of small boulders that measured c. 9.2m in length and c. 0.4m in height was uncovered at the south-eastern edge of the test area. There were approximately ten large stones with smaller stones interspersed between them. The larger stones ranged in size from 0.5m x 0.5m to 0.25m x 0.25m. The linear nature of the feature suggests that it might have been a denuded field boundary. The date of the feature is uncertain.

Westport Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo