County: Sligo Site name: Cummeen, Sligo
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 14:52 Licence number: 03E0277
Author: Mary Henry, Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd, 17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Site type: Ditch
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 565509m, N 836474m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.275902, -8.529563
Pre-construction testing was undertaken at Cummeen as part of works for the extension of an existing housing estate. Cummeen is a built-up area on the outskirts of Sligo town. Five trenches were opened. A large, reasonably well-preserved enclosure survives to the west of the development site.
Testing revealed a very thin soil morphology, with the majority of the subsoils consisting of poor-quality podzolics. There was some disturbance, due to the presence of a high number of sewer pipes and soak pits; however, some features were revealed. A ditch was found in one trench. It measured 1.9m in width and 0.6m in depth. It was straight-sided, sloping at approximately 45ΒΌ to a slightly irregular base. Its fill was redeposited subsoil and natural clays. It was not possible to establish conclusively if it was an outer ditch around the enclosure. It was not picked up in other trenches positioned along the same axis as the trench which revealed it.
