County: Mayo Site name: Clare
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 12E267
Author: Dominic Delany
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 535673m, N 775612m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.726201, -8.974763
Test excavations were carried on the site of a proposed Bio Park at Clare, Claremorris, Co. Mayo in August 2012. The proposed development is located on the eastern outskirts of Claremorris on the N60 Ballyhaunis Road. A previous assessment compiled by Dominic Delany & Associates concluded that although no items of cultural heritage are recorded on the site previous investigations ahead of construction of the Knock-Claremorris bypass have established that the area has high archaeological potential. The fact that much of the site is peatland increased the possibility of an archaeological impact.
Eight trenches (L 35-95m) were opened on the footprint of the proposed development in August 2012. Peat deposits were recorded to depths of 2.5m in the north-west of the site and 1m in the south-east. The basal or primary peat deposits contained moderate inclusions of natural wood (branchwood and tree stumps) and frequent reed elements. No archaeological material was uncovered.
Delany & Associates, Unit 3, Howley Court, Oranmore, Co. Galway
