County: Westmeath Site name: Clonyn
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 06E0866
Author: Maedbh Saunderson, Arch-Tech Ltd, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2.
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 659438m, N 762220m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.606451, -7.101870
Testing was carried out at a site located within the former grounds of Clonyn Castle demesne, to the south of the village of Delvin. The proposed development covers a field of over 7ha and consists of 178 residential units, a crèche and associated roads and services. The area is characterised by rolling drumlins with three distinct high points. Two of these correspond with the location of two ringforts (WM013–032 and WM013–033), while on the other is a modern house. The proposed development incorporates both ringforts into open space areas.
Testing was undertaken on 21–28 August 2006. In total 35 test-trenches were excavated by a mechanical digger fitted with a 2.1m-wide toothless bucket. Approximately 2km of trenches were opened and all were excavated to the level of the natural subsoil or to the top of the archaeological deposits, whichever was encountered first. The primary aim of the testing programme was to clarify the results of a geophysical survey (Detection Device Licence No. 06R113), which had been interpreted as suggesting the presence of archaeological remains from four broad bases of activity (prehistoric, early historic, Clonyn Castle demesne landscape, estate lodge) concentrated in four areas of the proposed development. In addition, areas of lower densities of geophysical anomalies that had been identified were tested to ensure a representative sample.
Testing has established that archaeological remains at the site may not have been as extensive or significant as suggested by the assessment of the geophysical survey results alone. The majority of the features identified appear to relate to the post-medieval or early modern organisation of Clonyn Castle demesne, although features of possible prehistoric and early historic date have also been identified. The paucity of finds from any period makes the dating of identified remains difficult. This lack of discarded or deposited cultural material within the site may in itself suggest a more restricted set of activities than might have been expected.
