2010:179 - Broadpath, Donegal

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Donegal Site name: Broadpath

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 10E0197

Author: Richard Crumlish, 4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.

Site type: Burnt spreads

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 620212m, N 900543m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.852331, -7.685249

Monitoring of the stripping of topsoil at a site in Broadpath townland, Convoy, Co. Donegal, was carried out between 27 July and 31 August 2010. Monitoring of groundworks was a condition of planning permission, due to the scale of the proposed development, which consisted of the construction of a centre of excellence for Donegal GAA, including five playing pitches. The nearest known monument (DG069–019) is located over 200m away.
The proposed development site consisted of three relatively flat fields of pasture, bounded to the north by the R236 and to the east by the Deele River. Drains formed the western and southern site boundaries. There were no archaeological features visible within the site. Two large areas were stripped in the two larger fields for four of the five playing pitches. The area stripped in the northern field measured 260m long (east–west) and 120m wide, while the area in the southern field measured 390m long (east–west) and 150m wide. The topsoil-stripping/ground reduction was carried out using two bulldozers. Below the topsoil was orange/brown friable silt loam, loose orange/grey/brown sand and gravel, grey firm clay loam, orange/grey/brown loose sand, orange/grey/brown firm clay (natural subsoils), peat, modern fill and three burnt spreads. Modern pottery sherds, modern glass fragments, one undecorated clay-pipe stem fragment, one red-brick fragment, bits of timber and plastics were recovered from the topsoil.
Burnt Spread A was uncovered near the east end of the southern field (NGC 220379 400400). The main spread consisted of heat-shattered rocks and soil and contained charcoal. It was irregular in plan and measured 3.3m long (north–south) and 2.3m wide. A smaller oval-shaped burnt spread, measuring 1.8m long (north-west/south-east) and 0.5m wide, was located 2.1m to the east. A drain filled with redeposited subsoil and measuring 0.3m wide cut through the main spread at 1.6m from its north side.
Burnt Spread B was located near the northern side of the southern field (NGC 220304 400448), 83m north-west of Burnt Spread A. The spread consisted of heat-shattered rocks and soil and contained charcoal. It was crescentic in plan (4.2m long and 1.6m wide maximum) with an oval/subrectangular spread extending to the east-south-east (3.7m east-south-east/west-north-west and 2.1m wide maximum) enclosing an area of disturbed subsoil.
Burnt Spread C (NGC 220318 400361) was located 76.2m west of Burnt Spread A. The spread, which opened to the north-east, consisted of heat-shattered rocks and soil and contained charcoal. It was roughly crescentic in plan and measured 4.7m west-north-west/east-south-east and 2.7m wide.
The burnt spreads, particularly Burnt Spreads A and C, were located in a low-lying relatively flat area near the base of a north-facing slope (to the south) and in proximity to a water source.
Following discussions with the National Monuments Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which considered the impact the proposed development would have on the three archaeological features, including existing and proposed levels (the proposed development included the raising of levels on the site), weight loading and hydrology, the department recommended that preservation in situ was achievable. This was carried out under archaeological supervision.