2008:929 - Tooraree, Mayo

Testing took place on 26–28 May 2008 at the site of a proposed residential housing development at Tooraree, Ballyhaunis. Thirteen trenches were opened on the footprint of the development using a tracked excavator fitted with a grading bucket. There were no features or finds of an archaeological nature in the trenches. There was evidence of widespread agricultural features in the western field, including shallow drains, ploughmarks, furrows and a substantial deposition of fill to level out a natural incline. The western (lower) part of the west field was found to have more of these features, reflecting its greater land use capability prior to the improvement works evidenced in Trench 5 and elsewhere. The eastern field yielded a higher number of modern finds from the topsoil. In addition the drainage features here were found to be of the localised drain and soak pit type rather than reflecting a widespread system of shoring or improvement.