County: Offaly Site name: Moyally
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A016/015; E2643
Author: David Bayley, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Post-medieval features
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 621397m, N 737733m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.389326, -7.678331
Testing was carried out as part of an archaeological mitigation programme associated with the N6 Kilbeggan to Athlone dual carriageway. The site was identified during testing undertaken by Fintan Walsh of IAC Ltd in August 2005 (A016/015). The site was excavated in February 2006. Three excavation areas measuring 55m by 30m, 30m by 25m and 30m by 40m were opened.
The site consisted of a series of post-medieval linear features/ditches, an isolated pit, a possible trackway and the remains of a post-medieval kiln. All recorded post-medieval linear features cut the natural subsoil but have no direct stratigraphical relation to each other. The isolated pit feature contained only one fill of burnt and decaying stone.
The trackway feature was orientated north–south and comprised two main layers. The surface layer was a hardcore band formed of small stones and pebbles; beneath this was an oxidised layer, thought to be the result of burning and clearance.
This work was funded by Westmeath County Council and the National Roads Authority.
Editor’s note: Although excavated during 2006, the report on this site arrived too late for inclusion in the bulletin of that year.
