2004:1148 - FALLMORE, Mayo

Pre-development testing was carried out on 10 and 11 December 2004 at a site in advance of development at Fallmore, Blacksod, Belmullet, Co. Mayo. The proposed development was within the archaeological constraint for ecclesiastical remains (SMR 33:1), located adjacent to the development site. The ecclesiastical remains comprise a church, graveyard, enclosure, holy well, saint's tomb, quernstone and earthwork(s). None of these features were located within the development site.

The testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of four trenches, which measured 98.5m, 49.5m, 20m and 52.5m long respectively and were 0.8-1.6m wide and 0.3-1.1m deep. The stratigraphy in Trenches A and B was topsoil above white/grey/brown loose loamy sand. At 13-15m from the eastern end of Trench B, at 0.4m below the surface, the skeleton of a calf was uncovered, most likely modern in date. The stratigraphy in Trenches C and D was topsoil, above grey/brown loose loamy sand, above grey/yellow/rust/brown friable sandy loam. In Trench D, from 5m from the east-north-east end of the trench to the west-south-west end of the trench, below the loose loamy sand, was yellow/white loose sand.

Below the loose loamy sand, at 11.3m from the east-north-east end of Trench D, at 0.7-0.75m below the surface, was located a semicircular area of mottled (rust/brown/black) friable sandy loam, which contained a moderate amount of charcoal, flecks of charcoal and animal-bone fragments and occasional-moderate amounts of oyster, cockle and periwinkle shells. This area measured 2.7-3.4m long and extended for 0.15-0.7m out of the north-northwest side of the trench. Directly above this deposit, the loose loamy sand contained moderate amounts of animal-bone fragments and shells. To the east and west of the deposit were less well defined patches of the friable sandy loam. Below the deposit was yellow/white loose sand.

No artefacts were recovered from Trenches A, B and C. Within the loose loamy sand in Trench D, 17-39m from the east-north-east end of the trench, occasional animal bone fragments were recovered, as well as occasional oyster, cockle, periwinkle and mussel shells and one sherd of modern pottery.

Being located 42m from the graveyard wall and 0.7-0.75m below the surface, the deposit could represent a rubbish pit associated with the ecclesiastical site nearby and could be of medieval date or earlier. The animal-bone fragments found along an adjacent 22m section of Trench D could be associated with the deposit; however, the recovery of a modern pottery sherd within the same layer appeared to show recent disturbance there.