County: Westmeath Site name: AR 1, ARDNAGLEW
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E1102
Author: Laurence McGowan, 27 Lindenwood Park, Foyle Springs, Derry, for Cultural Resource Development Services Ltd.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 636005m, N 734744m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.361677, -7.459078
This work was undertaken as part of a programme of testing ahead of the proposed realignment of the N6 Dublin-Galway carriageway. The site is one of sixteen sites of archaeological potential identified during the compilation of an EIS. The site is situated in the south-west corner of a field in pasture, at Chainage point 32,350m. The surrounding landscape is hummocky and is dotted with small drumlins. The field comprises the gentle south-facing slope of a small hillock that continues southwards for c. 200m until it reaches an area of low-lying boggy ground. The site is located 150m to the south of a disused graveyard at Kilnahorna, which is situated on top of this hillock.
The site comprises a narrow linear feature, which was recorded running in a rough north-south orientation through the area. This feature is situated c. 10m to the east of the western field boundary and extends for about 150m beyond the northern and southern limits of the proposed road corridor. A fairly sharp and distinct edge of the feature is still clearly visible on the ground and its full extent can be easily traced.
A series of test-trenches were opened running across this feature. In addition, several trenches were excavated in the area enclosed by the feature. No evidence of archaeological activity was uncovered. The thin linear feature that had prompted the original interest in the site represents modern agricultural activity, and is probably the extinct boundary of a rectangular paddock.
A section excavated through this ditch feature showed it to be quite shallow, displaying a wide U-shaped profile and reaching a maximum depth of 0.3m. It contained a single brown sandy clay fill with chunks of natural subsoil throughout. The feature was sealed by a layer of ploughsoil.
