County: Galway Site name: BALLYMABILLA
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A024/3.12
Author: Aisling Collins, CRDS Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 570474m, N 725837m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.282037, -8.442753
Archaeological assessment on the route of the proposed N6 Galway–Ballinasloe road scheme (Contract 3) involved targeted test excavation of selected areas. The work was commissioned by Galway County Council National Roads Design Office and sponsored by the National Roads Authority. Geophysical survey carried out in advance of testing by Archaeophysica Ltd had suggested the presence of ditches and, as a result, this part of Ballymabilla was subject to targeted investigation.
Two ringforts (SMR 86:36 and 86:231) lie 500m and 750m from the subject area, respectively. These lie off the road corridor and will not be affected by construction. The presence of these sites suggested significant potential archaeological activity in the general area. Centre-line and offset trenching and targeted topsoil-stripping encompassing an area of 1200m2 did not reveal features of archaeological significance. The ditches identified in the geophysical survey were found to represent modern field drains. Cultivation furrows related to modern agricultural activities extended over the area investigated. Evidence for activity related to the ringforts in the vicinity was not revealed.
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