2006:1444 - CROSSMOLINA, Mayo

Stage 4 of the Ballina regional water supply scheme involved the construction of c. 11km of pipeline between Crossmolina and Cloonfadda crossroads, c. 4km south-west of Kilalla. The vast majority of the proposed pipeline was inserted into wayleaves parallel to the existing road. These wayleaves ranged from 15 to 25m in width.

Two small burnt spreads were exposed during monitoring of wayleaves. One was excavated in Raheens townland to the north of the scheme and a second was excavated at Treangarrow c. 5km to the south (see No. 1484, Excavations 2006, 06E0744).

The route of this pipeline only impacted on one previously known archaeologically sensitive area, between MA029–039, a tower-house, and MA029–051, ecclesiastical remains (possible). Pipe trench was excavated along an existing road between these sites. A sewerage scheme had been excavated through this area in 2002. The water pipes were placed in the sewer trench throughout most of this sensitive area.

There were several small sections where the pipe trench diverged from the line of the sewer and in these sections archaeological deposits were exposed. It was difficult to determine the precise nature of deposits under the road surface, due to the narrowness of the trench (0.8m in width).

The evidence from testing and monitoring at this location would suggest at least three or more phases of stratigraphy. A possible burial was exposed at the west end of the pipe trench adjacent to the modern Anglican graveyard. Local information suggests 19th- and early 20th-century burials were left in situ when the boundary wall around the graveyard was moved by FÁS workers in the 1980s.

The pipe trench was rerouted to avoid impacting on these possible burials. According to the present vicar in Crossmolina, the burials in this area are likely to be those of wealthy local Catholic families who would have been buried in the west portion of the graveyard up until 1870.

The area close to the existing farmhouse adjacent to the castle has possible medieval organic-type deposits with animal bone and an old ground surface. Some human remains fragments were exposed at this location. These remains may be associated with the Anglican graveyard but could also be associated with the castle or perhaps with an earlier medieval foundation.

All human and animal bone fragments encountered are currently undergoing specialist analysis. A radiocarbon date for bones exposed at this location may prove useful in determining whether there was an early medieval (AD 400–800) settlement at this location pre-dating the construction of the castle (AD 1172).

Sylane, Tuam, Co. Galway