2007:1537 - Knockaculleen, Sligo

Pre-development testing was carried out on 12–14 March 2007 at a site in Knockaculleen townland, Dromore West, Co. Sligo. A small area at the southern end of the proposed development, which consisted of the construction of 32 dwelling houses in a gently undulating pasture field located in the grounds of Woodhill House, a protected structure, was located within the archaeological constraint for a castle site which was located across the main road (N59) and the Dunneill River to the south.
The testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of six trenches, which measured 24.3m, 177.3m, 84.2m, 60m, 102.4m and 151m long respectively, 0.8–1.4m wide and 0.25–1.1m deep. Below the topsoil was orange/brown plastic sandy clay, grey loose sand, fill, grey friable-loose-sandy loam, orange/grey/brown friable sandy silt loam, grey/dark-brown firm/plastic clay, orange/brown loose loamy sand and orange/grey/brown friable silt loam. The topsoil contained a red-brick fragment, modern glass fragments and modern pottery sherds (willow pattern, blackware and whiteware). The fill contained one small modern glass fragment.
Apart from the modern fill found in one of the trenches, the testing revealed natural undisturbed stratigraphy and nothing of archaeological significance.