County: Donegal Site name: Proposed southern Dam, Croaghonagh, Lough Mourne
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 13E0343
Author: Shane Delaney
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 606398m, N 888504m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.744520, -7.900630
Testing and a GPR survey were carried out to assess the impact on the potential archaeological resource of a proposed dam located at the southern extent of Lough Mourne, Co. Donegal. Testing was recommended following an environmental impact assessment (O’Dwyer and McIlveen, 2003) and a public inquiry (Inspector report ref.: PL05.EL.2039). A ground penetrating radar survey (GPR) was undertaken on the South Dam site in July 2010 (Birtwisle 2010, 13R103). The survey revealed a number of anomalous responses in the South Dam area. It was recommended that the anomalies be targeted with machine and hand excavated test trenches to determine their archaeological significance.
Testing was carried out over the course of five days from 19 September 2013. Unstable ground conditions meant that it was not possible to excavate 13 of the proposed trenches. A total of 23 trenches were excavated which revealed a natural origin for all of the previously identified GPR anomalies.
No areas of archaeological significance were identified during this program of testing.
IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
