County: Galway Site name: LARAGH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 85:72 Licence number: 01E1053
Author: Billy Quinn, ASU Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 558093m, N 728341m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.303701, -8.628722
Pre-development testing on the site of a proposed dwelling-house, garage, septic tank and percolation area took place on 6 November 2001 at Laragh, Kilmordaly, Co. Galway. Testing was required owing to the proposed development’s proximity to a ringfort and children’s burial-ground.
The proposed development was located along the north-west perimeter of a greenfield site enclosed by a hedge, with good views to the south-east in the direction of the Slive Aughty Mountains. Internally the site has a natural slope to the south-east, with a low scarp running east–west. Thirty metres to the south-west of the proposed development the ringfort is defined by a low bank which survives from north through east to east-south-east, where a field boundary cuts the monument. The remainder was levelled in 1982 by the landowner.
The associated children’s burial-ground within the ringfort is marked on the third edition of the OS map (1933) and is known locally as such. There is, however, no visible trace of the graves above ground.
Four trial-trenches were excavated. They were 15–30m long and were dug to an average depth of 0.45m. The stratigraphy exposed was a thin sod and topsoil layer, overlying a mid-brown fine silty clay. This compact sterile layer contained no inclusions, roots or otherwise. Below this at the base of the trenches was a dark boulder clay with occasional small to medium-sized stones. No finds or features of archaeological significance were noted during the testing programme.
Purcell House, Oranmore, Co. Galway
