County: Sligo Site name: Laragh, Skreen
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SL013-103 Licence number: 14E0321
Author: Angela Wallace, Atlantic Archaeology
Site type: Vicinity of SL013-103
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 551725m, N 834547m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.257473, -8.740890
Archaeological assessment to include test trenches was carried out in advance of a proposed development for a single-storey residential dwelling and a domestic garage with associated landscaping and percolation area. The area for the site is 0.584 hectares. The site is located within undulating pasture land. The house has a ground floor area 192.23m² and ground plan is roughly H-shaped with an annexe to the south-west. The proposed development is within the vicinity of SL013-103 Enclosure (possible).
The indicated location for the possible enclosure is 26m to the west of house gable wall. There are mature trees located in this area which it is proposed to keep; landscaping will be kept to a minimum to west of proposed dwelling to retain existing trees.
SL013-103 is classified in SMR (1989) as ‘Enclosure, possible’ and in the RMP (1995) as ‘Ringfort (rath/cashel possible)’. Situated on good rolling pasture, the site is evident as a slight rise in ground close to a curving field boundary. It is best preserved on the east side of the boundary immediately behind a house.
Examination of documentary and cartographic sources did not give a clear indication of whether or not a definitive enclosure exists at this site. Site inspection also proved difficult as the boundary where the possible enclosure is located is densely overgrown.
Area of the site was strimmed in advance of testing; no evidence for any above-ground archaeological features was visible across the area of the site.
Testing was carried out across the footprint of the proposed dwelling, garage and percolation area. Seven test trenches were excavated across the footprint of the development. No evidence for any archaeological deposits, finds or features was encountered during testing.
There is a possibility archaeological material exists further to the west of the site and it was recommended that no landscaping works or ground disturbance be allowed within 20m of the western boundary of the site. There are mature trees currently within this area and the developer has indicated that these are to be retained.
Pier Road, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo
