County: Sligo Site name: Bellanode, Rathquarter, Cleaveragh Demesne & Abbeyquarter North
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/a Licence number: E004525
Author: Fintan Walsh
Site type: Prehistoric activity
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 570130m, N 835750m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.269680, -8.458560
Testing was carried out in advance of the Eastern Garavogue Bridge Project, Co. Sligo. The testing (Stage (i)) was undertaken on behalf of Sligo County Council and took place between 25 and 29 November 2013.
Testing was proposed in 11 greenfield areas (Fields 1–11) in the townlands of Bellanode, Rathquarter, Cleaveragh Demesne and Abbeyquarter North. A total of 1835 linear metres of trenches were excavated. Four of the fields could not be tested due to the presence of woodland and/or existing modern ruined buildings (Fields 5, 9, 10 and 11).
Two archaeological sites were discovered during the course of the works (Rathquarter 1 and 2). They comprised a group of four prehistoric pits (Rathquarter 1) and a burnt mound (Rathquarter 2). In addition to these the remains of a 19th-century settlement (Newtown Anderson) was also identified.
An area (c. 13m by 15.5m) was stripped of topsoil around the pits at Rathquarter 1 to determine the full extent of the site. This was undertaken as part of the Stage (ii) works. Additional trenches were excavated around the burnt mound (Rathquarter 2) to determine the full extent of the site as part of the Stage (ii) works. This additional trenching was undertaken instead of an area strip as the immediate environs of the burnt mound were occupied by mature and sapling trees.
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