County: Mayo Site name: CASHEL
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 89:19 Licence number: 05E0125
Author: Richard Crumlish, 4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 469893m, N 802744m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.957625, -9.982532
Pre-development testing was carried out at Cashel townland, Ayle, Westport, Co. Mayo, on 15 February 2005 at the site of a proposed dwelling house, garage, proprietary effluent treatment unit, septic tank and percolation area. The proposed development was located within the archaeological constraint for a cemetery mound known as ‘Turnincorragh’, located c. 40m away from the development.
The testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of four trenches, which were located along the proposed driveway, through the centre of the proposed dwelling, through the proposed garage and from the proposed dwelling through the septic tank location to the percolation area. These trenches measured 30.3m, 24m, 14.6m and 40.2m long respectively, 1.55–1.8m wide and 0.15–0.7m deep. Below the topsoil (which measured 0.15–0.3m thick) was rust/grey/orange/brown firm clay loam, grey loose sand and gravel and grey friable sandy silt loam with frequent rocks and bedrock.
The testing revealed natural undisturbed stratigraphy and nothing of archaeological significance. One fragment of modern glass and two sherds of modern pottery were recovered from the topsoil.
