County: Roscommon Site name: Ballyglass
Sites and Monuments Record No.: RO028-189003 Licence number: 12E0399
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 586052m, N 776164m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.734936, -8.211396
Pre-development testing was carried out at the site of a proposed development in Ballyglass townland, Four Mile House, Co. Roscommon, on 28 November 2011. The proposed development consisted of the construction of a dwelling house, garage and septic tank system. The testing was required due to the proximity of a road (RO028-189003) to the proposed development site. The road, which is not extant, was located 2m outside the northern site boundary. Following discussions with the National Monuments Service the site layout was revised, relocating the northern site boundary 18m to the south and therefore 20m from the edge of the monument.
The site was located within a large field of pasture within which was found a rath (RO028-189001), located c. 42m north of the revised site boundary and a cashel (RO028-190001), located 34m east of the proposed development site. The road was visible in the field to the west where it measured 7m wide and was enclosed on either side by earth and stone banks measuring 1.7-2m wide and 0.25-0.4m high.
The testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of five trenches located to best cover the development area, especially that closest to the road. The trenches measured 39.8m, 39.7m, 40.1m, 24.5m and 20.1m long respectively, 1.1-1.4m wide and 0.1-0.55m deep. The testing revealed natural undisturbed stratigraphy, i.e. topsoil above natural subsoils and bedrock. No artefacts were recovered. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.
4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.
