County: Mayo Site name: BALLINVILLA DEMESNE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 102:34 Licence number: 02E0303
Author: Bernard Guinan
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 541954m, N 774358m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.715672, -8.879353
Monitoring of drainage works consisting of the laying of concrete culvert pipes in a tributary of the River Robe, within the protected area of Ballinvilla Demesne Graveyard, Bekan, Co. Mayo, took place in March and April 2002. This work was undertaken by Mayo County Council to prevent flooding of the approach road to the graveyard.
Pipes were laid at three different locations in the river. Works included the removal of decayed vegetation that clogged the river in places, adding to the flooding problem.
Topsoil, where present, was 0.7–1.6m deep. This horizon was not homogeneous. It was a highly disturbed zone consisting of deposits of peat, clay and gravel, the residue of previous drainage works. This mixed topsoil contained a number of fragments of modern ceramics. In addition, riverine erosion and deposition after constant annual flooding of the river had caused further disturbance.
No features or finds of archaeological significance were unearthed.
Coosan, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
