2015:437 - N61 Coolteige (Phase I) Project, Roscommon, Areas 1, 2, 3 & 5 Testing, Roscommon

The proposed scheme is a c. 2.5km section of the N61 between Roscommon town and the village of Coolteige north of the town. The testing area was composed of a number of low-lying fields with a distinct hilly area in the centre. Topsoil ranged in depth from 0.2m to 0.75m over the area. Subsoil across the area varied between glacially-derived sediment or till in dryland areas and a soft stony marl in wetland areas. A total of 109 trenches, amounting to 5028 linear metres were excavated at the site.

Two previously unrecorded archaeological sites were identified along the project. These were an extensively disturbed fulacht fia in Ranelagh townland (Ranelagh 2) and an inhumation burial with adjacent pits in Mullymucks Townland (Mullymucks 1). The burnt spread (Ranelagh 2) had dimensions of 5.5m north-east/south-west by 3.6m by 0.05m deep. It partially covered an unlined trough (2.1m east-west x 1.68m x 0.58m deep) and a pit (1.41m east-west x 1.1m x 0.7m deep), both of which were filled with burnt mound material. These features and a separate pit (1.4m north-south x 1.23m x 0.5m deep) were disturbed by the insertion of a modern ceramic land drain aligned west-north-west/east-south-east across the site. A cluster of 4 pits was located towards the south-west of the site. All were filled with burnt mound material.

Mullymucks 1 is located at the northern end of the project at ITM 586921, 767726. A single isolated east-west aligned inhumation was recorded at this location, adjacent to a post-medieval slot trench/linear feature (0.4m wide). An area of 561 sq. m centred on the burial was stripped of sod. Three additional pits were recorded within the excavation area. Two short slots/pits dating to the post-medieval period were also recorded.

Archer Heritage Planning, 8 Beat Centre, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.