2014:082 - Rinnaseer, Mayo

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Mayo Site name: Rinnaseer

Sites and Monuments Record No.: MA078-068, MA078-069 Licence number: 14E0144

Author: Richard Crumlish

Site type: Burnt spreads

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 507602m, N 787363m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.827550, -9.403528

Pre-development testing was carried out on a site in advance of its development in Rinnaseer townland, County Mayo from 12-15 May 2014. The proposed development consisted of the construction of a grass playing pitch including all associated site works. The testing was required due to the size of the proposed development (Site Area 2.715ha). Following the discovery of two burnt spreads during the testing, the Local Authority Archaeologist recommended that both features be fully exposed and recorded. This further work was carried out from 28-30 May 2014.

The proposed development was located across two fields of undulating pasture, adjacent to and to the north of the GAA pitch in the village of Islandeady, 6.5km west of Castlebar. No archaeological features were visible within the proposed development site. There were no recorded monuments in the immediate vicinity.

Testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of ten trenches located to best cover the development area. The trenches measured 130m, 130.5m, 110.6m, 20.7m, 71m, 90m, 79.8m, 50.6m, 20.4m and 58.9m respectively; 1.5-2m wide and 0.2-1.6m deep. Testing revealed natural undisturbed stratigraphy, i.e. topsoil, above peat and natural subsoils, in eight of the ten test trenches. Evidence of small-scale quarrying was evident in a ninth trench. Two burnt spreads were uncovered in the remaining test trench, which was located in the more southerly of the two fields, below the topsoil and above natural subsoils. The features were subsequently fully exposed in extended cuttings.

The larger of the two spreads was located at the edge of a west-north-west facing slope (ITM 507557, 787344), at 0.3-0.4m below the surface. It consisted of blackened soil and heat-shattered rocks with occasional charcoal visible. The feature measured 12m north-east/south-west by 6m and opened to the south with a trough visible 1m away. The trough was sub-rectangular in shape and measured 1.7m north-north-west/south-south-east and 1.2m wide. It was filled with re-deposited subsoil and heat-shattered rocks. This larger spread had been cut by a modern trench with two smaller areas of burnt material, located to the west and north-west of the trench, probably originally part of the main spread.

The second burnt spread was visible near the base of a south-east facing slope (ITM 507499, 787317), 56m west-south-west of the larger spread. It measured 6.3m north-north-east/south south-west and consisted of blackened soil and heat-shattered rocks with occasional charcoal visible.

Both spreads were located at the edge of lower marshy ground, which the test trenching revealed to be comprised of peat and which was more than likely once under water, a perfect setting for these features.

It was hoped that both burnt spreads could be preserved in situ below the proposed playing pitch.

 

Addendum

Following the pre-development testing of the site in May 2014, monitoring of the topsoil stripping was carried out on 15 and 16 June 2015. The monitoring was a condition of the planning permission. It was agreed that the two burnt spreads (RMP Nos. MA078-068 and MA078-069), discovered during the testing, could be preserved in situ below the proposed playing pitch. The two features were fenced off prior to the commencement of the on-site works and subsequently covered with terram and 300mm of sand, below the drainage and foundation layers of the pitch.

The stripping of topsoil revealed natural undisturbed stratigraphy. The topsoil contained five sherds of modern pottery. Nothing more of archaeological significance was uncovered.

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