County: Mayo Site name: KNOCKFEREEN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: MA118-027 Licence number: 11E0148
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 519137m, N 763444m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.614577, -9.222104
Pre-development testing was carried out on 17 May 2011 at a site off the Neale Road in Knockfereen townland, Ballinrobe. The proposed development consisted of the construction of a dwelling house, domestic garage and associated site services. Testing was required owing to the proximity of an enclosure (MA118-027), 8m outside the eastern site boundary. No archaeological features were visible within the proposed development site, which was a field of overgrown pasture.
Testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of four trenches positioned to best cover the development site, especially that closest to the possible enclosure. The trenches measured 31.2m, 38m, 38m and 36.5m long respectively, 1.5–1.7m wide and 0.4–0.9m deep. Testing revealed natural undisturbed stratigraphy for the most part, with topsoil above natural subsoil and limestone bedrock. A drystone wall foundation, which was found at 0.2–0.3m below the surface along the eastern side of the site and which produced modern pottery, appeared to be that marked on the first edition of the OS six-inch sheet. Modern disturbance was in evidence near the surface at the western end of the site.
A number of modern artefacts recovered from the testing were not retained. Nothing of archaeological significance was revealed.
4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo
