2011:271 - MAUSREVAGH/BALLYDONNELLAN/BALLINDUFF, Galway

Stage (i) Test Excavation and Survey Services and Stage (ii) Pre-Excavation Services were undertaken as part of the Archaeological Services Contract prior to the commencement of construction works associated with the N84 Luimnagh Realignment Scheme, Co. Galway. The work was carried out on behalf of Galway County Council between 14 and 21 November 2011. A total of 64 test trenches were excavated across 22 fields. A single previously unrecorded archaeological site, Mausrevagh 1, was identified within Field 2. Mausrevagh 1 consists of five pits, two possible post-holes and six deposits.
The pits were located centrally within the stripped site and were generally subcircular in plan, with one irregular-shaped pit also noted. They contained single fills. The fills were similar in composition, consisting of friable dark brown to black-brown silty clay with small stones and pebbles. Frequent charcoal flecks were noted within the fills of three of the pits and animal bone fragments were noted within the fill of another. The pits ranged from 0.47m to 1m in length, from 0.36m to 0.47m in width and from 0.12m to 0.25m in depth. No finds were recovered.
Two possible post-holes were located in the south-western quadrant of the site in close proximity to two of the pits. Circular in plan, they measured between 0.2m and 0.23m in diameter. One of the post-holes measured 0.15m in depth and the other exceeded this. They contained single fills. The fills were similar in composition, consisting of friable dark black-brown to black silty clay with frequent charcoal inclusions and occasional small stones. Burnt bone fragments were noted within the fill of one possible post-hole. No finds were recovered.
Six deposits were identified across the site, four in the south-east corner and two in the north-east corner. They varied greatly in size, ranging from 0.15m in diameter to 2.4m in length by 1.3m wide. Further investigation of the deposits established that they were quite shallow, measuring from 0.02m (minimum) to 0.15m (maximum) in depth. Charcoal flecks and fragments of burnt and unburnt animal bone were identified within a number of the deposits. The majority of the deposits consisted of friable silty clay which varied in colour from dark brown to red-brown to black. One deposit comprised dark brown clayey silt. No finds were recovered.

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