2005:626 - MACKNEY, Galway

The assessment, including test excavation, was carried out before the construction of the proposed N6 Galway–Ballinasloe road scheme. The proposed scheme will be a dual carriageway, 56km in length, extending from the east side of Galway city at Doughiska to the east side of Ballinasloe, at Beagh Brabazon, in Co. Roscommon. The assessment was undertaken for Galway County Council and the National Roads Authority and forms part of a wider archaeological assessment of c. 15km of the proposed N6 dual carriageway (Contract 4).

The site is situated less than 3km east of Aughrim and 2km west of Ballinasloe. The aim of testing was to locate the anomalies identified in the geophysical survey (ArchaeoPhysica 2004) and to establish their nature, extent and significance. In the survey, one area of archaeological potential was identified; this was interpreted as ‘ditch fills that seem to outline part of an enclosure’ (ArchaeoPhysica 2004). Trench 7 tested this possible feature but nothing was uncovered here. One area of archaeological potential was uncovered. At the intersection of Trenches 1 and 5 the tested area was extended to the north-west. Two features were uncovered. Feature 1 is a roughly circular mixture of topsoil and charcoal 0.4m by 0.3m in width. A small part was tested and this was found to be only 0.05m in depth. Feature 2, to the north-west of Feature 1, is a linear feature orientated north-west/south-east (the same as the plough furrows in this field) with three distinct ‘nodes’. These all contain charcoal, and the central, largest one contains burnt stone. There are a number of furrows in this field.

The feature identified in the geophysical survey was not recorded during centre-line testing. Two burnt features were uncovered and no associated archaeological remains were found.

Reference 
ArchaeoPhysica 2004 N6 Galway to East Ballinasloe geophysical survey report. Unpublished report lodged with the DoEHLG.

Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork