County: Mayo Site name: LOUGH MASK REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY SCHEME (Stage I, Contract 6)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E1208
Author: Bernard Guinan
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 526440m, N 784719m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.806801, -9.116814
Topsoil removal and pipelaying associated with the Lough Mask regional water supply scheme, Stage I, Contract 6, was monitored. The project involved pipelaying between Balla and Ballyhean, Co. Mayo. Work began in late August 2003 and was completed in December 2004. The scheme was c. 20km long and the pipeline wayleave varied from 15m to 25m in width. The pipeline was laid within undulating pastureland, low-lying marsh, existing roadway and roadside verge.
Pre-development testing took place within the area of constraint of three monuments under licences 03E1612 (Excavations 2003, No. 1338), 03E1749 (Excavations 2003, N0.1341) and 04E0447 (No. 1144, Excavations 2004). A number of new sites were discovered during monitoring. Two fulachta fiadh were excavated in Elmhall townland under licence 04E0453 (No. 1146, Excavations 2004). A third fulacht fiadh was excavated in Lisnolan 04E1084 (No. 1151, Excavations 2004). A number of additional fulachta fiadh, which were preserved in situ, were also discovered during monitoring. These included two sites from Moat townland in Balla, one from Skiddernagh townland and three in Carrowntober Oughter (near Manulla). The foundations of a pre-famine house (Skiddernagh townland) were also discovered and preserved in situ.
Finds recovered during monitoring included a bullaun stone from Balla and a number of worked lithic artifacts.
Coosan, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
