County: Mayo Site name: Attavally
Sites and Monuments Record No.: MA089-074 Licence number: 13E0439
Author: Richard F Gillespie
Site type: Earthworks (possible)/fulacht fiadh
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 514222m, N 779847m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.761161, -9.300909
Pre-development testing for potential subsurface archaeological remains was carried out along the greenfield area adjacent to the existing local road (L1709) as part of a minor road realignment project. This transected the area of the development which is located within the RMP monument circle for MA089-074 and was over 50m from the edge of the possible monument.
The monument was identified on a 1974 aerial photograph as a regular oval-shaped possible ditch. A feature, possibly a quarry, is marked at this point on the first edition OS six-inch map. On inspection this appears to be a fairly regular, natural, glacial feature, however further testing would be required to establish this.
A 76m long trench was opened accross the development area. It measured 1.9m wide and was excavated to previously undisturbed subsoil generally at a depth of 0.2-0.4m below the surface.
The top of a burnt spread was exposed within the western 20m of the trench. This spread was present for a length of 10m and continues beyond the limits of the trench to the north and south. It may be the remains of a fulacht fiadh. This site was preserved in situ and the western 20m of the trench were backfilled and excluded from the development. All excavation works were monitored and nothing else of archaeological interest was identified. This testing did not establish the archaeological significance of the recorded monument, earthwork (possible).
Westport Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
