County: Mayo Site name: Altamont Street, Westport
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 10E0055
Author: Richard Crumlish, 4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 500361m, N 784181m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.797635, -9.512439
Pre-development testing was carried out on 23 February 2010 at a site at Altamont Street, Westport, Co. Mayo. The proposed development involved the demolition of a linen distribution factory (built in the 1960s/70s) and the construction of a retail development and possibly a hostel, together with car-parking and deliveries. The proposed development was in the pre-planning phase. Testing was required due to the size of the proposed development area, at just over 1ha. There were no archaeological monuments visible within or in the immediate vicinity of the proposed development site.
Testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of three trenches located to best cover the area of the proposed development which was accessible. The trenches measured 36.7m, 14.2m and 34.5m long respectively, 1–2m wide and 0.3–3.4m deep. Below the topsoil and fill were peat, orange/grey/brown friable sandy silt loam, grey loose sand and gravel and grey plastic clay (natural subsoils). The topsoil contained one sherd of modern pottery. The fill contained hardcore, plastics, metal and wood.
Testing revealed nothing of archaeological significance.
