2015:115 - Baunmore (Athenry By), Boyhill and Farranablake East, Galway

Monitoring was undertaken on the Athenry Watermains Rehabilitation Project Phase 1, Co. Galway. It is proposed to upgrade the watermain in Athenry, Co. Galway (Galway County Council – exempt development). These works form part of the Galway Watermains Rehabilitation Project Phase 1, which covers Ballinasloe, Oranmore, Athenry and Headford, Co. Galway.

The project consisted of the laying of approximately 375m of watermain along a regional road (R348) south of Athenry town centre and replacing some connections within the existing watermain nearby. The works were located within the existing road network and took place along the road that forms the boundary between the townlands of Baunmore, Boyhill and Farranablake East in the parish of Athenry, in the barony of Athenry, Co. Galway.

Works took place outside a large graveyard (GA084-027001), which occupies the site of a large circular banked enclosure (GA084-027). Historic mapping shows that this enclosure was bisected by a road, the R347, and lies immediately south of the junction of this road and the R348 along which the works took place.

Monitoring was undertaken in order to supplement existing documentary research completed in relation to these works and, specifically, to establish the nature and extent of any archaeological deposits and features. Monitoring took place between 17 and 20 November 2015. The excavation of pipe trenches in the designated area was monitored sporadically and trench faces were cleaned by hand when it was deemed necessary. Trench excavations were mostly carried out using a 20 tonne tracked excavator, fitted with a 0.6m wide toothless grading bucket. Trench depth was typically 1m.

Trenching was through made-ground, specifically gravel deposited when the R438 was upgraded sometime within the last 5 years. This gravel was present for approximately 145m of the trench’s length and directly opposite the existing graveyard. This part of the trench was, therefore, cut through already truncated deposits and along the line of a pre-existing road trench. The remainder of the trench, approximately 230m, was cut through road top and glacial till. The road deposits comprised tarmac over hard core, with this combination reaching up to 0.2m thick. This lay directly on 0.6-0.8m of glacial till. Topsoil was absent and it appears was removed in advance of construction of the road. No archaeological features, deposits or artefacts were observed during the monitoring.

Documentary research completed previously showed that the development site lies within an area of archaeological potential with a number of significant monuments recorded in the vicinity. However, as no archaeological features or deposits were observed during monitoring, no archaeological monuments were impacted by the element of the works that were subject to archaeological monitoring.

TVAS Ireland Ltd, Ahish, Ballinruan, Co. Clare