2015:616 - N4, Collooney to Castlebaldwin Road Development Stage (i), Sligo

Archaeological test excavations were carried out on behalf of Sligo County Council and completed in October 2015. The works were undertaken as part of Stage (i) of the Archaeological Services Contract prior to the commencement of construction of the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin Road Development, which extends from Collooney townland to Cloghoge Lower townland in Co. Sligo. All works were carried out in accordance with Ministerial Directions A071.

Following a route constraints study, and a route appraisal and selection report, an Environmental Impact Study was carried out on the preferred route, including a chapter on archaeology and cultural heritage (NRDOS 2013). A total of 101 archaeological and architectural heritage constraints were identified along the route of the road. The recommendations in the EIS relevant to the current archaeological services contract are: targeted test excavations, standard test excavations of the entire route – (12% of the drylands areas made available and 10% of the wetlands made available), survey of the 22 townland boundaries, four underwater surveys and survey of the 18 architectural/built heritage sites and a topographical survey of one area.

Within the areas where standard test excavations were possible a total of 58 potential archaeological sites were identified during the course of this work. In advance of further investigation it would appear 26 of these sites contained remains related to burnt mounds, 15 sites contained a range of pits, post-holes, stake-holes, linear and curvilinear features which have yet to be interpreted regarding use and date, one wetland site contained fragments of worked wood, one site consisted of a prehistoric enclosure that contained a ring-ditch, eight sites contained pits possibly associated with charcoal production and two sites containing a ring-ditch, cremations and a range of pits and post-holes, one of which produced evidence metalworking. In addition, three sites comprised the remains of 19th-century structures.

NOTE: Stage (i) Archaeological Services could not be carried out in a number of excessively inundated wetland areas, forested areas, fields under multiple exclusion zones and inaccessible dryland fields. It is recommended that these areas will be subject to archaeological monitoring during the construction phase.

Reference
National Road Design Office Sligo (NRDOS) 2013 N4 Collooney–Castlebaldwin Road Development Environmental Impact Statement. Unpublished technical report.