County: Donegal Site name: Finner, Bundoran
Sites and Monuments Record No.: none Licence number: 12E0366 Extension & Transfer
Author: Angela Wallace, Atlantic Archaeology
Site type: none
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 583216m, N 859699m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.485472, -8.259018
Archaeological testing was carried out at Finner townland in Bundoran, Co. Donegal. Testing methodology at this site was informed by results of a previous archaeological desktop assessment compiled by Maeve Tobin of IAC Ltd and the results of a Geophysical Survey carried out by Target Archaeological Geophysics (Licence Ref: 12R006).
The proposed development consisted of a two-storey nursing home for 70 persons with 10 associated independent living units. A programme of testing was carried out across the entire area of the development site. A total of 14 test trenches were excavated.
Trenches 1-5 were excavated at the western end of the site and orientated east-west measuring 30m in length and 1.2m in width. Trenches 1-3 were located in the area where ‘Area of Archaeological Potential 1’ was identified in initial archaeological assessment, i.e. area where a curving field boundary is indicated on 3rd edition OS map. Trenches 4 and 5 were located parallel to the north-western boundary of the site to investigate the possibility of finding archaeological features across remaining areas of the site which were not available for survey.
Trenches 1-3 were excavated across AAP1, the curving field boundary identified in the initial assessment. A slightly curved marshy ditch was identified in the trenches; the curve appears to be linked to the undulating topography of the field which has well-drained topsoil and subsoil interspersed with pockets of marshy areas of peat and marl.
Evidence from Test Trenches 6, 9 and 10 indicates that geophysical anomalies identified in Areas C and E are linked to natural ground conditions across the site. Anomalies appear to correlate roughly with pockets of marshy areas.
Evidence from Test Trenches 11 and 12 located within geophysical survey Area F and at the location of a possible post-medieval buildings did not reveal any strong evidence for structural foundations. Trench 11 had a considerable layer of fine grey brown sand or fill material probably linked to previous works on the adjacent R267 covering the south-east two-thirds of the trench. Some evidence for crockery and occasional angular stones were identified at the south-eastern ends of these trenches, however any remains of 18th/19th-century occupation appear to be very sparse.
Testing across the footprint of the development has not yielded any evidence for archaeological finds or features across the site.
The proposed development is located within an area with a high concentration of archaeological sites. There is a possibility archaeological features or finds may be detected at other locations within the site. It was therefore recommended that all topsoil stripping across the site be monitored during the course of development.
Pier Road, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo
