County: Roscommon Site name: BALLYPHEASAN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: RO039–055 Licence number: C352; E4027
Author: Mary Henry, Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd, 17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Site type: Post-medieval garden
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 587259m, N 763915m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.624899, -8.192590
An advance geophysical survey and archaeological testing was undertaken at a greenfield site on the south side of Roscommon town. The site is within the constraint area for Roscommon Abbey and graveyard, a national monument. It is proposed to seek planning permission to build a number of dwelling-houses.
In total nine trenches were opened across the site, with eight of the trenches sited to try to locate and determine the provenance of distinct anomalies identified by the previous geophysical survey. Within the nine trenches 49 features were identified. All were cut from within the topsoil and can be classified as furrows, cultivation trenches, tree boles, land drains and a series of sewers extending from a manhole which services the bungalow in the western part of the site. No artefacts pre-dating the late 19th century were found.
The first-edition OS map denoted the site as being within the confines of a landscaped garden pertaining to a large house at the location of the present bungalow to the west. In fact, the site is represented as being under orchard. It is noticeable the alignment of the linear features, as well as the tree boles revealed, reflect this. Furthermore, some of the original trees, both apples and pears, appear to be present in the overgrown part of the site to the south-west. The map of 1870 showed a lot of the orchard to have been uprooted, which reflects the agricultural practices of the time, with more of a return to livestock rearing. In fact, local information states this has been the case up until recent times, with the enclosed garden having been utilised as pasture.
No evidence of medieval activity was found, even though this site is in relatively close proximity to the ruined Dominican abbey.
It is considered that any features or deposits associated with the medieval period have been destroyed by extensive building and landscaping projects implemented in the 19th century.
