County: Sligo Site name: CARROWROE/CALTRAGH/MAGHERABOY/KNAPPAGH BEG/RATHEDMOND
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 14:65 Licence number: 01E0140
Author: Sebastien Joubert, on behalf of Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 568736m, N 833433m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.248791, -8.479711
Monitoring of engineering pre-construction testing took place along the proposed Sligo Inner Relief Road, between 24 February and 2 March 2001. Testing commenced at Carrowroe townland, to the south of the town of Sligo, and headed north towards and through the town. It was carried out along the entire length of the proposed Sligo Inner Relief Road and traversed the townlands of Carrowroe, Caltragh, Magheraboy, Knappagh Beg and Rathedmond. Within the town of Sligo, Wolfe Tone Street, John’s Street, Lord Edward Street, Lynn’s Place, Ballast Quay and Summerhill were also affected.
On 14 February 2001 it came to my attention that pre-development testing had started on 12 February 2001, without the presence of an archaeologist. Thirty-one trial-holes had been dug from Carrowroe townland to the townland of Caltragh, where archaeological excavations were ongoing. Further trial-holes (approximately 30 in number) were planned along the proposed route, dug approximately every 100m, but distance between them varied depending on the topography, the stratigraphy and the terrain. They averaged 3m in length by 0.8m in width. The depth depended on the level of bedrock. The holes were dug with the help of a JCB.
No archaeological deposits were uncovered in the trial-holes monitored, but it appeared that two small trial-holes were dug within a hengiform monument at Tonafortes without the presence of an archaeologist. The stratigraphy exposed along the route was consistent. The sod and topsoil overlay the natural boulder clay. The remains of modern agricultural furrows were also identified. The location of the trial-holes excavated within the hengiform monument was reported to the relevant bodies.
Horge House, Camp, Co. Kerry
