2015:052 - Crossdoney and The Rocks, Cavan

Testing was undertaken in part preparation of an Archaeological Impact Assessment required by Cavan County Council as a condition of planning with respect to the construction of seventeen detached dwellings. The site is located in the townlands of Crossdoney and The Rocks, on the eastern extent of the village of Crossdoney.
There are no previously Recorded Monuments located within, or in the immediate environs of, the development site and no surface traces of archaeological potential were noted by the surface reconnaissance survey undertaken as part of the assessment.
A total of 49 test trenches were excavated by machine within the proposed development area, the locations of which were largely determined by the layout of the development and the topographical nature of the site. In general, the topsoil comprised moderately compact mid-brown sandy silty clay with moderate-sized pebbles and small-medium cobbles, occasional large cobbles and very occasional small stones dispersed randomly throughout. The topsoil, which was 0.28–0.37m in depth, lay directly upon moderately compact orange/grey-brown sandy clay subsoil, which was stony in places. However, in a low-lying western area of the site a layer of peat, up to 0.7m in thickness and overlying grey marl, was uncovered.

Nothing of archaeological interest were uncovered, and no artefacts of archaeological interest were found.

Byrne Mullins & Associates, 7 Cnoc na Greine Square, Kilculen, Co. Kildare