2018:095 - Clooneen, Manorhamilton, Leitrim

Monitoring of upgrade works for proposed new pump station, access/tank area in the townland of Clooneen, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim was carried out on March 15 2018. The area monitored is located on a rectangular greenfield site, on reclaimed agricultural land which slopes gently from north to south towards the Owenmore River, on the south-west side of Manorhamilton. A strip (4m wide, 1.2m long) was excavated to create the access along the north-east/south-west length of the field. It ran parallel with and adjacent to the boundary with the N16.

The topsoil comprised a mid-to dark brown, silty, peaty topsoil, less than 0.1m in depth. It overlay an orange sandy gravel. The topsoil at the north-east end of the site, adjacent to the existing pump house, comprised a dark brown peat, less than 0.1m deep, which overlay a grey silty marl, characteristic of wet, marshy ground. A spread of burnt material (2m east-west by 2.10m and c. 0.15m deep) was noted at the south-west end of the field. Modern in date, it is likely to have occurred as a result of vegetation clearance for land improvement works. Along with burnt, rooty material, it contained fragments of aluminium drink cans, plastic, baling twine etc. A number of stone drains (0.3m wide) running approx. north-south towards the river were also noted.

A small amount of glass and pottery fragments was found within the topsoil and in the fill of the drains. Most were decorated creamwares and brownwares dating to the 19th/20th centuries. However, a single fragment of 17th-century North Staffordshire slipware plate with comb and feather decoration was also recovered. Apart from single sherd of Staffordshire Ware no archaeological finds, features or deposits were noted.

No further recommendations were considered necessary for this development.

Pier Rd., Enniscrone, Co. Sligo