2003:1336 - LISGOWEL, Mayo

Monitoring was carried out at Lisgowel, Breaghwy, Co. Mayo. The proposed development entails the construction of two detached dwelling-houses and their access routes, parking, septic tanks and percolation areas. Presently only one of the houses, House 2, situated furthest from the monument, is being constructed and this site alone is the subject of this report.

The development is located south of SMR 79:54, a circular enclosure divided by a modern laneway and partially levelled. The initial phase of testing was carried out by Martin Jones in July 2003 (No. 1335, Excavations 2003).

A single feature of possible archaeological significance was found. This took the form of a narrow, shallow linear cut running in a north-south direction and a wider cut running perpendicular to this. The feature was visible during testing for both proposed dwellings. No diagnostic material was found in the fill and no date or function for the feature could be proposed.

Following testing, it was recommended that full topsoil-stripping of the area be carried out prior to the commencement of construction. This work was subsequently carried out by mechanical excavator using a ditching bucket on 28 August 2003. In the area of the house site, the ground was dug to an average depth of 0.3m below present ground level; excavation was marginally deeper at the north-west corner, to maintain a level foundation. The stratigraphy consisted of a topsoil composed of a mid- to dark-brown clay loam (0.45m in thickness) overlying a sterile mid-grey to beige till containing a large amount of rough limestone gravel and large angular and subangular limestone and occasional sandstone boulders. No material or features of archaeological potential were evident throughout the stripped area.

To the north of the site, around the footprint of the proposed garage, the stratigraphy remained uniform throughout, with no anomalies or features visible.

Corporate House, Ballybrit Business Park, Ballybrit, Galway