2007:1244 - Quignalecka, Mayo

Testing was undertaken for the National Monuments Division, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, on the site of a possible archaeological monument at Quignalecka on the outskirts of Ballina town in Co. Mayo. It came to the attention of National Monuments that a possible archaeological feature was located in the area of a proposed residential development for which planning permission had been granted. The feature consisted of a roughly circular, flat-topped mound (13m in diameter) located on high ground to the immediate west of the N59 Sligo–Ballina roadway. Prior to testing, in June 2007, the land to the immediate north, south and west of the mound had been reduced in level by some 3–4m as part of the construction work associated with the development.
Testing at the site involved the manual excavation of two trenches through the mound. Trench A was orientated roughly east–west and measured 13m in length and 1.5m wide. Trench B was orientated north–south and measured 6m in length. Testing uncovered stones on top of what appeared to be a natural rise. The removal of these stones in the centre and east revealed a centrally placed large flat stone surrounded by a mixed layer with much charcoal. The presence of the large flat stone and associated charcoal indicated that the mound was of archaeological interest. Testing also revealed a ditch feature in the north which may have circled the mound. Finds from the topsoil included glass, modern ceramic fragments and iron nails; however, a flint fragment and a scraper were discovered from the area of the ditch. The testing concluded that the mound represented an archaeological monument.