2016:857 - Kilbarry, Roscommon, Roscommon

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Roscommon Site name: Kilbarry, Roscommon

Sites and Monuments Record No.: Vicinity of RO030-017 Old Road or Trackway Licence number: 16E0174

Author: Angela Wallace, Atlantic Archaeology

Site type: Vicinity of RO030-017 Old Road or Trackway

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 606384m, N 780756m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.776349, -7.903148

The proposed development site is located c.250m west of a significant medieval monastic complex within the village of Kilbarry (RO024:016) and the southern boundary of the site is in close proximity to an old road or trackway (RO030-017) which is possibly located 20-30m away from the south-eastern corner of the site. This trackway is locally reputed to have been an old routeway between Kilbarry Church and the RC church of Whitehall located c.2.2km to the south-west.
Proposed development consists of a single storey bungalow type dwelling, detached garage, formation of new entrance, boundary wall/fence, wastewater treatment system, percolation area and ancillary site works.
Area for testing was located in flat pastureland, area to the front or north of site is well drained, area to the rear or south consists of marshier ground. There are good views across the entire field. No trace of RO030-017 gravel/stone trackway could be detected on the ground. Some large boulders linked to demolition of an old farmhouse were evident at the southern end of the field and landowner said there was originally a track leading to demolished house (this would have been 60-70m east of area for site), it is possible this track coincided with the old gravel/stone trackway.
A total of 10 test trenches were excavated across the footprint of this development in order to determine if any archaeological material existed in this area due to its proximity to the zone of recorded monument RO030-017, gravel/stone trackway. No archaeological material or features of any kind were encountered during excavation of test trenches 1-10 across the footprint of the driveway, house, garage and percolation area.
Evidence from maps and Archaeological Survey description would suggest that the route of the trackway is likely to be located further to the east. No evidence for location of northern portion of trackway could be determined through examination of aerial photographs relating to this site.

Pier Road Enniscrone Co. Sligo