County: Westmeath Site name: Ardballymore
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A016/028; E2656
Author: David Bayley, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Mound, possible fulacht fiadh
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 630549m, N 735863m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.372075, -7.540932
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 Patricia Lynch in July and August 2005 (A019/028). The site was excavated in January 2006. An excavation area measuring 25m by 25m (625m2) was opened.
The site consisted of a number of disturbed burnt spreads filling shallow potential pits. Some isolated pits were also uncovered, along with two potential post-holes. The functions of these features are unknown, though it is assumed that, given their proximity to one another and the similar nature of their fills, they are directly associated with one another. No finds were recovered during the excavation.
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.
