2009:688 - AREAS G–P, N5, BALLAGHADERREEN BYPASS, Roscommon

Testing was carried out in advance of the proposed N5 Ballaghaderreen bypass road scheme, Co. Roscommon, between September and October 2009. The work was carried out on behalf of Roscommon County Council, the National Roads Design Office and the National Roads Authority. The proposed road scheme consists of the construction of a bypass, 13.6km long, located to the north of Ballaghaderreen town. For the purpose of testing this scheme was divided into sixteen areas, labelled A–P. These areas were subsequently divided into two parts. The northwest portion of the proposed road scheme consisted of six areas, labelled A–F. To the southeast of this were the remaining ten areas, labelled G–P. This licence was concerned with Areas G–P only. It covered 24.23ha of mostly undulating pasture, with some scrub and marshy areas, and incorporated the townlands of Toobrackan, Tullaghanrock, Banada, Keelbabada, Ballinphuill, Teenacreeva and Rathkeery, Co. Roscommon.
The testing methodology generally consisted of mechanically excavating 2mwide linear testtrenches along a centreline, with perpendicular offset trenching occurring every 20m. Testtrenching within Areas G–P totalled c. 12% of the roadtake. Three areas of archaeological significance (Sites 1–3) were identified during testing. A further two possible archaeological sites (Sites 4 and 5) were also investigated. Radiocarbon dates were necessary to determine if both these sites were archaeological in nature. All five sites are detailed below.
Site 1: burnt mound, Area H, Field 2, Trench 46
This burnt mound was identified on the edge of the road corridor and appeared to continue to the northeast, beyond the CPO area. It was roughly circular in shape and measured 7m long, 6.2m wide and 0.3m deep. A worked flint flake was recovered from the southern part of the burnt mound. Two small deposits or pits were located directly south of the burnt mound. The larger of the two measured 2m long by 1.6m wide. Immediately 1.2m south of this was the second deposit/pit. This measured c. 2m long by 0.6m wide.
Site 2: burnt mound, Area I, Field 3, Trench 105
A burnt mound was located to the extreme northwest of Trench 105 and lay parallel to a hardcore and earth ramp used as an access point to the field. The burnt mound was slightly disturbed and irregular in shape. It measured 5.9m long, 3.8m wide and 0.09m deep. No further features were identified surrounding the burnt mound and no artefacts were recovered.
Site 3: burnt mound, Area I, Field 4, Trench 107
Site 3 consisted of a further burnt mound. It was located to the extreme southeast of Trench 107 and measured c. 6.6m long, 6.1m wide and 0.03–0.08m deep. It was roughly subcircular in shape and did not appear to be disturbed. No further features were identified surrounding the burnt mound and no artefacts were recovered.
Site 4: curvilinear feature, posthole, and deposit, Area J, Field 2, Trench 118 and 119
A shallow curvilinear feature was identified within Trench 119. This measured c. 3.5m long, 0.8m wide and 0.04m deep. This feature contained a single fill of moderately compact lightto mediumgrey silty clay with a moderate amount of charcoal, charred hazelnut shell and occasional stone inclusions. Five small pieces of flint debitage were recovered from this fill. There was a sufficient amount of charred hazelnut shell from the curvilinear feature for radiocarbondating and a calibrated radiocarbon date of 2460–2150 BC (2 sigma) (SUERC–27342) was returned. Several possible postholes surrounded the curvilinear feature to the northwest and northeast. One of the postholes was investigated. It measured 0.18m long, 0.17m wide and 0.08m deep and was filled with darkgrey/black, silty sandy clay with frequent charcoal inclusions. In adjacent Trench 118, an irregular subcircular deposit was identified. This deposit comprised compact lightgrey silty clay with a moderate amount of charcoal inclusions. It measured 2.4m long, 1.8m wide and 0.03m deep.
Site 5: pit, Area M, Field 3, Trench 195
An isolated suboval pit was identified on Site 5. It measured 1.05m long, 0.58m wide and 0.14m deep. It was filled with loose black sandy clay with frequent charcoal and burnt bone and occasional charred hazelnut shell and cereal grain inclusions. Burnt bone recovered from the pit was suitable for radiocarbondating. A calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 20–220 (2 sigma) (SUERC–27344) was returned.