County: Westmeath Site name: TE 1, TEMPLEORAN NORTH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E1094
Author: Laurence McGowan, 27 Lindenwood Park, Foyle Springs, Derry, for Cultural Resource Development Services Ltd.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 640744m, N 739611m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.405069, -7.387259
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 northern part of an undulating field that is currently in pasture at Chainage point 2,600m on the proposed N52 realignment, which is being undertaken as part of the N6 improvement. The field is bordered to the north and west by existing roadways, which lie c. 2.5m below the ground level of the site. The ruins of Templeoran House are c. 150m to the south.
The site comprises the zone of archaeological potential to the north of a possible barrow-type monument identified in the EIS as an oval-shaped area of boggy ground, measuring roughly 20m in diameter, with a hawthorn tree and other vegetation in the centre. Only the northernmost extent of this area will actually be impacted upon by the road. A single trench was excavated running through this area, with a series of additional trenches excavated in the surrounding area. No evidence of archaeological activity was uncovered.
