County: Galway Site name: BALLYGARRAUN WEST
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A024/1.15
Author: John Lehane and Eoghan Moore, Valerie J Keeley Ltd, Brehon House, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 548169m, N 727301m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.293480, -8.777443
Testing was undertaken as part of Contract 1 of the N6 Galway–Ballinasloe road scheme (Phase 1). A single human skeleton was found during test excavations at Ballygarraun West, Co. Galway. The skeleton was found in a subrectangular grave-cut 1.5m in length, 0.8m in maximum width and 0.2m in maximum depth. The cut was filled by a mid-brown silty clay with several large stones at the surface, possibly the remnants of a disturbed covering cairn (probably the result of agricultural activity).
The skeleton was oriented with the head to the west. Bone preservation was poor, although the skeleton appeared to be that of a juvenile (probably female), 16–19 years of age. The skeleton was in the supine position, with the arms and legs extended and the hands lying on the pelvis. A single fragment of antler appeared to have been placed upon the pelvic girdle of the individual. The skeleton lay on a shallow bed of corbonised clay containing a small amount of burnt bone. No associated burials were found in the area and the skeleton was fully excavated during the testing phase of works.
The work was commissioned by Galway County Council National Roads Design Office and sponsored by the National Roads Authority. RPS-MCOS Ltd acted as principal consultants for the scheme.
