County: Westmeath Site name: RATHGARRETT (RA1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E1092
Author: Laurence McGowan, for Cultural Resource Development Services Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 643109m, N 736547m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.377344, -7.352105
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. It is situated in the centre of a field that is currently in rough pasture, at Chainage point 39,500m. The surrounding area is generally very uneven and is comprised of a chain of low drumlins. The site is located on the top of one of these drumlins.
The site was identified during the 2002 aerial survey carried out by Markus Casey as 'the possible remains of a square enclosure standing on the summit of a low but prominent hillock... The enclosing element seems to be a low scarp enclosing an area 20m square.' No trace of the earthwork was visible on the ground.
A central trench was excavated across the top of the hillock on a north-east/south-west orientation. Two offsets were opened to the north and south, which covered the remainder of the hillock. No evidence of any archaeological activity was uncovered.
27 Lindenwood Park, Foyle Springs, Derry
