County: Donegal Site name: Calhame
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 08E0846
Author: Billy Quinn, Moore Archaeological & Environmental Services Ltd, Corporate House, Ballybrit Business Park, Ballybrit, Galway.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 618302m, N 915920m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.990556, -7.714006
Testing was carried out in October 2008 at Calhame/Fallard, Co. Donegal, on the site of a proposed extension to a quarry. There were no monuments listed for the subject area, however there is a geological feature indicated on the first- and second-edition OS maps as the ‘Garrengaltha Rocks’ within this extension area. According to a local landowner these rocks were moved a number of years ago during site clearance works. During the site inspection a conspicuous dump of rocks were noted lying to the south of the field. The ex situ stones consisted of large boulders with no obvious markings or carvings. Six test-trenches were excavated throughout the site exposing a silty topsoil overlying an orange/grey stony boulder clay with isolated peat pockets. Also exposed were a number of French drains and modern plough furrows.
Trench 6 was sited to investigate an area where the Garrangealtha Rocks were originally located. This area was evident as an overgrown low platform. Investigations revealed no significant change in stratigraphy or evidence of stone sockets. None of the remaining trenches contained finds or features of archaeological significance.
