2003:1549 - BALLYCLARE, Roscommon

Monitoring of topsoil removal associated with Phase 1 of a proposed sports complex at Ballyclare townland, Ballyleague, Co. Roscommon, was carried out on 22 July 2003. Phase I envisages the construction of a clubhouse in the extreme north-east corner of the site. The development site slopes quite sharply to the south and is to be partially raised prior to construction works, consequently not all of the topsoil was stripped. However, monitoring revealed that the soil profile was uniform across the stripped area, a relatively thin layer of topsoil overlying orange/brown sandy/silty clay subsoil. Finds included modern ceramics and iron fragments, and one isolated base sherd of possible medieval date. Along the eastern boundary of the site an old trackway was revealed. It was associated with the gate in the extreme north-east corner of the site and runs southward, presumably towards the abandoned house located within the boundaries of the development site. The line of an existing public sewer was clearly visible running diagonally across the stripped area in a north-west/south-east direction, recognisable as a 1m-wide band of stone and redeposited tan-coloured compact clay. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted during the monitoring.

Unit 3, Howley Court, Oranmore, Co. Galway