County: Leitrim Site name: LISNAGAT
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 31:2 Licence number: 05E1267
Author: Christopher Read, North West Archaeological Services, Cloonfad Cottage, Cloonfad, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
Site type: Possible prehistoric structure
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 593601m, N 800835m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.956787, -8.097489
The site of the proposed development at Lisnagat, Co. Leitrim, is located on the northern outskirts of Carrick-on-Shannon. It will consist of 37 detached and semi-detached houses, access and connection to local services. Located within the bounds of the proposed development is an enclosure. A recommended 10m buffer zone was proposed by Leitrim County Council and incorporated by the developer into the proposed site layout.
Topsoil-stripping was carried out in March 2005 and in the south-west corner of the field a potential archaeological feature was revealed. It was subsequently excavated under the above licence. The feature consisted of a thin, shallow, curving gully, 6.8m long, 0.36–0.48m wide and 0.07–0.22m deep. It probably extends further to the south-west. At the north-west end there is a possible pebble surface. A well-made chert thumbnail scraper was retrieved as a stray find c. 20m to the east. The feature is c. 40m to the south-west of the enclosure. Upon full exposure, the feature consisted of a narrow, shallow slot-trench enclosing two-thirds of an 8m circle. This was probably the remains of a temporary structure that can date to anywhere between the later prehistoric to the early historic periods. Samples have been taken for dating purposes.
