2013:107 - Gortaroe, Mayo

Monitoring of groundworks at a development in a former IDA Business Park at Gortaroe townland on the north-east outskirts of Westport, Co. Mayo, was carried out between 27 May and 6 December 2013.  The development consisted of the construction of a new production facility for a pharmaceutical firm.  Monitoring was recommended in an Environmental Impact Statement submitted with the planning application.  The EIS found that several features of archaeological significance had been uncovered during different phases of development within and adjacent to the site area.  These included four burnt spreads, a Neolithic house and a possible kiln located along the watercourse which formed the southern site boundary, which were excavated as part of the Westport Sewerage Scheme (Licence Nos. 01E0650, 01E1042?).  Pre-development testing in 2003 (Licence No. 03E0121?) identified three fulachtaí fiadh in the north-west of the site area, a burnt spread and a pit containing worked chert.  Two of the four areas of burnt stone were fully excavated in 2004 (Licence No. 04E1130?).  Monitoring of topsoil stripping for a compound and for two access roads in 2004 (Licence No. 04E1130?) revealed a number of cremation pits, which were excavated.  The EIS concluded that given the amount of archaeology uncovered within and in the immediate vicinity of the site and the difficulty in knowing what areas had been disturbed and the extent of the disturbance, it was prudent that monitoring of groundworks be carried out. The monitoring revealed modern fill, concrete, quarried stone, landscaped topsoil, original topsoil, re-deposited subsoils, peat and natural subsoils.  The site appears to have been completely disturbed prior to the commencement of the development.  Nothing of archaeological significance was revealed.

4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.