2004:1748 - N6 KINNEGAD TO KILBEGGAN, Westmeath

An archaeological centre-line and offset testing programme was undertaken on behalf of Westmeath County Council along the route of the proposed N6 Kinnegad-Kilbeggan realignment. The section of the route extending between Monganstown, west of Kinnegad, and Garrane townland, south-east of Tyrrellspass, was tested. Of the 13.5km length of the route, 9.5km were tested. The remaining 4km consisted of bogland. Test-trenches were incrementally excavated by track machines with flat buckets. In most cases the trenches were opened and backfilled within the same day. The targeted testing of potential archaeological sites and the centre-line test excavations were carried out as a single operation. A bogland survey and four building surveys were also conducted.

Eleven potential sites identified in the environmental impact statement were tested and dismissed as non-archaeological. Thirteen new archaeological sites were discovered. An isolated hearth was encountered in Rattin townland (Chainage 52800), while three potential hearth features or burnt areas were recorded in Farthingstown (Chainage 44600, 43900 and 43650 respectively). Segments of trackways through bogland were identified at Chainage 54500 in Rattin and Chainage 45950 in Farthingstown. Ironworking sites were encountered in Monganstown, at Chainage 57240, and Kiltotan/Collinstown, Chainage 42150. A prehistoric settlement site and a multi-period site were also identified at Kiltotan/Colinstown (Chainage 42450 and 42500 respectively). The latter site comprised a fulacht fiadh, pits and artefacts of prehistoric date as well as a medieval field boundary complex. Relict field systems were encountered at Chainage 43950 in Farthingstown and between Chainages 55200 and 56600 in Monganstown. A linear feature of indefinite date was identified at Chainage 44950 in Farthingstown. A post-medieval building complex was surveyed and excavated in Rattin at Chainage 53100. The new sites will be excavated early in 2005.