2006:1794 - Tobertelly, Sligo

A test excavation was conducted at Test Area 5, in Tobertelly townland along the proposed route of the N17 Tubbercurry bypass, on 16 and 17 November 2006. This test excavation is one of eight conducted along the middle section of the N17 realignment, Collooney to Charlestown. It comprises a 10.5km section of the N17 national primary route from the townland of Rhue, 2km to the south of Tubbercurry, to Tullyhugh, 1km north of Achonry Creamery.
A series of test-trenches were excavated in this area due to the presence of a D-shaped enclosure, c. 43m in diameter, and a boundary ditch within the test area. The enclosure appears on the ground in the form of a low bank enclosed by a shallow ditch, which is best preserved to the east and south. The test excavation confirmed the presence of the ditch and bank but also revealed four internal features, two of which contained burnt bone and charcoal and one of which may be an occupation layer. The ditch was initially c. 5m wide by 0.92m deep but was partially backfilled and recut with dimensions of only 2.34m wide by 0.7m deep. The surviving bank remnant was 3.02m wide by 0.29m high. The recut ditch had silted up with slippage from the bank before a final phase of intentional backfilling.
Evidence of two possible mounds was also discovered outside the enclosure along the western boundary of the site, but these may be associated with the construction of the adjacent disused railway. Two modern field drains were also discovered.