County: Galway Site name: CARNA–KILKIERAN REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY AUGMENTATION SCHEME
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 05E0713
Author: Billy Quinn, Moore Archaeological & Environmental Services Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 478348m, N 731937m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.323696, -9.826091
A programme of monitoring was carried out along the route of the Carna–Kilkieran regional water supply augmentation scheme during 2005 and 2006. The development entailed the laying of a regional water supply scheme located on the Carna Peninsula in Connemara involving the construction of c. 50km of pipeline, two reservoirs, a dam, intake works and a water treatment plant that commenced in July/August 2005. In the main, the route of the pipeline network followed pre-existing roadways, with no direct impact on the known archaeological resource.
Given the extent of the scheme and its close proximity to several recorded sites of archaeological significance, monitoring of all groundworks was recommended during the course of the project.
In general, the terrain consisted of lowland blanket bog with frequent granite outcrops and natural boulders. The land tended to be divided by drystone walls into small irregular fields of c. 1–2 acres. The soil quality was poor and suitable only for sporadic cattle and sheep grazing.
The stratigraphy was uniform throughout, comprising tarmac overlying hardcore, sand and peat. The peat varied in depth and overlay bedrock. In many areas road hardcore directly overlay bedrock. Rockbreakers were frequently employed. Throughout the works, the trench was located in the verge of the road where possible. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted during the course of monitoring.
Corporate House, Ballybrit Business Park, Ballybrit, Galway
