County: Roscommon Site name: Mihanboy
Sites and Monuments Record No.: - Licence number: A034, E2831
Author: Bruce Sutton, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd, Brehon House, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.
Site type: Cairns – no archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 598686m, N 739792m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.408268, -8.019759
Archaeological assessment on the proposed route of the N6 Ballinasloe to Athlone road scheme involved targeted test excavation of selected areas lying within the proposed road-take. Work was commissioned by Galway County Council and the National Roads Design Office and sponsored by the National Roads Authority. Testing here involved a single hand-excavated trench (10m2) across each of three low stone mounds located on the western slope of a prominent hill.
Cairn 1 measured 6.9m by 4.9m and 0.55m in height and was investigated by a 5m by 1m trench inserted into the south-eastern side of the mound. Testing revealed that stones from the lower portion of the mound showed signs of recent removal and placement.
Cairn 2 measured 4.6m by 5.6m and 0.5m in height and was also investigated by a 5m by 1m trench inserted into the western side of the mound to examine the prominent large boulder and the character of the cairn. Cairn 2 was difficult to investigate due to two large trees around which the mound was formed. Testing here revealed the mound to be sitting directly on the topsoil. Nothing of archaeological significance was discovered during testing. Cairns 1 and 2 were interpreted as modern and the result of modern or early-modern field clearance or field-wall removal.
Cairn 3 was extremely overgrown and would have required professional site clearance in advance of any works. Taking into account its close proximity and similarity to Cairns 1 and 2 (the result of field clearance), no testing at this site was carried out.
Nothing of archaeological significance was discovered during the excavation.
