2004:0699 - LEHINCH, Galway

Pre-development testing was undertaken at the site of the proposed development at Lehinch, Kilkerrin, on the recommendation of the National Monuments Service. Three trenches were mechanically excavated. The site is located to the west of, and partially on, a recorded monument. The enclosure site was visited by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland in 1985 and was described as having been levelled.

In Trench A the sod and topsoil overlay an orange-coloured sandy clay, which was 0.4m deep in the north of the trench and 0.65m deep in the south. This overlay a natural grey sandy clay layer with occasional large stones throughout. In Trench B sod and topsoil measuring 0.1m in depth overlay an orange-coloured sandy clay. The orange sandy clay was excavated to a depth of 0.5m and came down onto the grey sandy natural clay. The stratigraphy was similar to Trench A, in that the orange sandy clay was deeper in the north of the trench than in the south. In Trench C sod overlay the orange sandy subsoil and excavation of the subsoil in the north of the trench came down on to an area of burning. It consisted of a blackish-grey deposit with charcoal, measuring 1.5m in length, 0.25m in depth, and extended into the baulks of the trench. The deposit overlay a dark-red clay that overlay the natural. No other features were found associated with the burning. Throughout the rest of the trench the sod came down on to the orange sandy clay which overlay the natural grey sandy clay and no further remains were revealed. The evidence for the burning was found in the area of the proposed lawn of the new dwelling house and therefore will not be directly impacted by the proposed house.

Ballydavid South, Athenry, Co. Galway