County: Mayo Site name: Barnacahoge
Sites and Monuments Record No.: MA072–114 Licence number: 08E0257
Author: Richard Crumlish, 4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 543331m, N 795938m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.909727, -8.862470
Pre-development testing was carried out on 11 April 2008 at a site at Barnacahoge townland, Swinford, Co. Mayo. The proposed development was located within the constraint for a possible mound (MA072–114). The monument consisted of an oval raised area (9.3m by 6m) defined by a stone bank (0.8–1.25m high), which was located on the far side of a lane, 13m from the proposed dwelling. A second monument (MA072–092, an enclosure) was located 24.5m west of the south-west end of the proposed entrance driveway. The proposed development consisted of the construction of a dwelling with septic tank, proprietary effluent treatment unit and percolation area. It was located in a relatively flat field of pasture.
The testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of five trenches which measured 30m, 47m, 29.5m, 25.5m and 20m long respectively, 1.4–1.8m wide and 0.2–0.9m deep. Below the topsoil was orange/grey/brown friable sandy silt loam, orange/brown friable loamy sand and grey/brown loose sand and gravel. The sandy silt loam and loamy sand contained naturally decaying rocks. No artefacts were recovered. Nothing of archaeological significance was revealed.
