2005:1598 - SKEAHANAGH (3), Westmeath

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Westmeath Site name: SKEAHANAGH (3)

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/075

Author: Lydia Cagney, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd.

Site type: No archaeology found

Period/Dating: N/A

ITM: E 635024m, N 735029m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.364304, -7.473781

Testing along one section of the planned N6 Athlone –Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath, was undertaken on behalf of Westmeath County Council and the National Roads Authority on 7 December 2005. An oval pit was identified during testing. This site was located at the eastern end of a gentle valley of low-lying marshland. It was positioned at a point no less than 50m west of the Kilbeggan branch of the Royal Canal, where the topography changes from upland, hilly terrain to a low-lying marshy bog area, all of which is currently in use as pasture.

An oval pit containing the remains of a sheep was located within this cutting. Local sources have revealed that this burial took place within living memory. This site was therefore of no archaeological significance.

Castlecomer, County Kilkenny