2011:533 - ARDLOY, Sligo

The on-site elements of the required Archaeological Services [Stages (i) and (ii)] were undertaken within Areas 13 in advance of the proposed N4 Ardloy Road Improvement Scheme. A total of 580 linear metres of test trenches (Areas 2 and 3) and sixteen test pits (Area 1) were excavated within the footprint of the proposed scheme. One archaeological site was discovered during the course of the works (Ardloy 1, see below). This comprised a series of pits and two linear ditches.
Test Area 1 (wetland) was located at the north-western end of the scheme, immediately south-east of Ardloy Lough. Sixteen test pits were excavated here and confirmed that this area comprised on average 3m of peat with concentrations of wood in places. Some of this wood comprised tree trunks and is likely to be the result of tree clearance. The peat sealed a creamy marl subsoil and a grey sandy clay. A removed field boundary was noted traversing the centre of this area south-west/north-east, which is in line with a boundary depicted on the first-edition OS map of 1838. Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded in Test Area 1.
Area 2 was located south-east of Area 1 to the immediate north of the existing N4. Seven trenches were excavated in Area 2 and one site of archaeological significance was recorded (Ardloy 1). This comprises four pits (C6, C11, C15 and C17), a curvilinear gully (C14) and two linear field ditches (C7 and C9). A number of these features were half-sectioned to ascertain their depth and composition. One of the pits (C11: 0.5m in diameter and 0.2m deep) was found to have one distinct charcoal-rich fill and possible metallurgical waste. A curvilinear gully (C14: 3m long, 0.3m wide and 0.1m deep) respected the position of pit C11 and was positioned to its north-west. Two pits (C15 and C17: 0.45m wide by 0.2m deep) were located immediately to the north-east of C11 and may have been associated/contemporary. One isolated pit (C6: 0.45m wide and 0.2m deep) was positioned to the north-west of this group of features and contained three fills, the primary fill of which was charcoal-rich. Two linear field gullies/ditches (C7: 0.4m wide by 0.2m deep; and C9: 1.2m wide by 0.2m deep) which traversed the area south-west/north-east are likely to be field ditches.
Area 3 was on the southern side of the N4, to the south-east of Area 2. Two trenches were excavated here. This area consisted of marginal pastureland. A removed field boundary was noted during testing, traversing Trenches 1 and 2 and running south-west/north-east. This is depicted on the first-edition OS map of 1838. Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded in Test Area 3.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow