County: Roscommon Site name: KILVOY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 09E0569
Author: Tara Doyle, Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd, Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Cork.
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 579624m, N 787256m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.834405, -8.309545
Archaeological investigations were carried out as part of further information required for the planning application for a proposed development at Kilvoy, Bellanagare, Co. Roscommon. The proposed development is situated in c. 5.88ha of undulating marsh/pasture.
Geophysical investigation of the site using magnetic gradiometry was undertaken in October 2009 (09R189). This identified a number of anomalies across the footprint of the site which required investigation in advance of the proposed development receiving full planning permission. Testing of the site was carried out on 7 and 8 of December 2009.
Testing was carried out in two areas, Fields 1 and
2. Field 1 was located in the northern part of the proposed development. No geophysical survey was carried out in this area, as the land was waterlogged at the time of survey. During testing, three trenches were excavated and no archaeological features were identified.
An elevated laneway links Field 1 to Field 2 to the south. This was a stone hardcore track that branches out into the forested areas to the east and west. Two derelict 19th-century stone buildings representing an old farmstead were located to the east of this elevated laneway. A medieval trackway was located to the immediate south-west of Field 2. This was slightly elevated and was lined with mature trees. It was overgrown in parts by shrubs and bushes and a shallow ditch separated it from Field 2.
A total of 28 trenches were excavated in Field 2. These trenches were strategically placed to investigate the anomalies detected during the geophysical survey. Many of the anomalies were positively identified as features relating to agricultural practices. These included plough furrows, land clearance by burning and drainage ditches. Many geological features were also detected and included gravel ridges and iron pan deposits. One archaeologically significant feature was identified in Trench 22. It comprised a keyhole-shaped stone-built kiln and was constructed using sub-angular stones with no visible bonding material. It had a subcircular chamber or bowl with a stone-lined flue located to the west. The exterior of the chamber or bowl measured 1.4m in diameter and in total the kiln measured 2.8m long. The interior of the chamber or bowl was filled with moderately compact, mottled, medium-brown yellow/black silty clay with possible burnt clay, charcoal and lime inclusions.
Artefacts recovered during testing included seven post-medieval pottery sherds. These came from the topsoil and a shallow drainage ditch located in Trench 12.
