County: Westmeath Site name: Martin Fitzpatrick
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 17E0383
Author: Martin Fitzpatrick
Site type: N/A
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 611107m, N 746435m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.467845, -7.832719
This project, undertaken on behalf of Irish Water, involved monitoring of site investigations and pre-development testing associated with a proposed pipeline running east from Glasson through Ballymore and on towards Rathconrath ending north-west of Mullingar in Co. Westmeath. An archaeological screening of the route had been undertaken by Martin Byrne in November 2016.
Testing at seven separate locations along the proposed route and monitoring of trial pits and slit trenches throughout the scheme was undertaken over a period of six months from July-December 2017. The route, which passes through farmland and along existing roads and villages, does not directly impact on any recorded archaeological monument. Nothing of archaeological significance was encountered in any of the seven areas tested. The excavation of site investigation test pits and slit trenches was monitored on public roads and greenfield locations in the general vicinity of recorded monuments and in urban locations along the proposed pipeline route.
Burnt material, comprising of burnt stone and charcoal, was located in a number of trenches excavated at one green field location in Brittas townland. Archaeological material was uncovered at Test Pit 2C2014 (Irish Grid Reference 211157, 246430) in a field under grass and reeds. The stratigraphy in the trench consisted of 0.5m of loose silty sandy topsoil. A sub-circular pit measuring 0.35m x 0.4m was uncovered in the north of the trench. The feature consisted of a charcoal-dense centre with burnt stone and a grey corona. The darkened area extended east. A secondary test pit (TP2C2014A) was opened north of the original, at Irish Grid Reference 211176, 246446. A more extensive spread of burnt and fire-cracked stone in a charcoal-enriched silty clay was uncovered below the topsoil at a depth of 0.55m. This material extended for a length of 2.1m. The burnt material uncovered is possibly associated with a fulacht fiadh or burnt mound.
It was recommended that if the pipeline is to proceed at this location then testing should be undertaken to ascertain the level and extent of burnt material.
Old Church Street, Athenry, Co. Galway
