County: Sligo Site name: CROWAGH OR DUNNEILL MOUNTAIN, BALLYGLASS AND TAWNADREMIRA (DUNNEILL WIND FARM)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 08E0809
Author: Dominic Delany, Dominic Delany & Associates, Unit 3, Howley Court, Oranmore, Co. Galway.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 568993m, N 836528m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.276610, -8.476089
Second-phase test excavations were carried out on the site of a proposed wind farm at Tawnadremira townland, Co. Sligo, in January 2009. The first phase of testing took place in October 2008 and resulted in the discovery of a burnt mound which was subsequently excavated in December 2008 (Excavations 2008, No. 1052). This second phase was concerned with the southern part of the wind farm, which is the location of Turbines 9 to 13. One turbine site had been topsoil-stripped and was inspected. Four test-trenches were opened across the footprint of the scheme, each centred on the site of a proposed wind turbine generator. The trenches were 10m long and were excavated using a 5ft-wide grading bucket. The stratigraphy found consisted of peat over orange sandy boulder clay with occasional gravel deposits. The stratigraphy was disturbed by forestry in some of the trenches. The results of testing indicated that nothing of archaeological significance was likely to be found within the footprint of the scheme.
Monitoring of works including topsoil removal also took place at the site in December 2008 and January 2009. Some of this work involved the preservation of sites previously identified at the EIS stage and this was achieved in consultation with the contractors. Monitoring of topsoil and peat removal in the area of Turbine 1 resulted in the discovery of a pre-bog clearance cairn. The feature was recorded and reinstated in consultation with the DoEHLG.
Monitoring of other works including topsoil removal in advance of turbine and road construction did not yield any features or finds of archaeological significance.
