2003:2245 - TUAM: Chapel Lane, Galway

Pre-development testing was carried out at the site of a four-storey development over a basement at Chapel Lane, Tuam, Co. Galway, over two periods in March and October 2003. The proposed development was located within the zone of archaeological potential for Tuam (SMR 29:199). It included the demolition of an existing supermarket/retail/administration building, which was constructed in the 1970s with an extension added in the 1980s.

The testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of six trenches, which measured 13.6m, 12.6m, 9.4m, 26m, 7.1m and 7.2m long, respectively, 1.4–1.8m wide and 1.2–2.3m deep. Below the tarmac and a concrete floor were rubble fill and a gravel fill, above mid- to dark-brown/black friable silt loam, grey/cream plastic clay, cream-coloured firm sandy silt loam, grey sands and gravels and bedrock.

The rubble fill and friable silt loam contained modern artefacts. The concrete floor and the gravel fill were associated with the extant building. The friable silt loam was the original topsoil, while the grey/cream plastic clay, sands and gravels and grey firm sandy silt loam were sterile natural subsoils.

The testing revealed evidence of modern (20th-century) activity only, associated with the extant building on the site.