2018:859 - N52 Cloghan to Billistown Phase 2 – Turin to Billistown Realignment, Westmeath

In July 2018, Phase 1 centreline test excavations were undertaken on behalf of Westmeath County Council in advance of the N52 Cloghan to Billistown Phase 2 – Turin to Billistown Realignment road scheme. The total area available for test excavations was approximately 26.15ha of greenfield across the townlands of Killynan (Pratt), Tevrin, Crosserdree, Reynella, Williamstown (Briscoe), Ballygillin, Hiskinstown, Williamstown (Rochford) and Ballynacor. This was divided up into 53 fields for the purposes of recording. Seven fields (Fields 10, 11, 12, 19, 25, 28 and 29) were not available for testing during this first phase and work in these areas was subsequently carried out over three sperate occasions, in September 2018, November 2018 and January 2019. For this second phase of test excavations the licence was transferred to Derek Gallagher.

Six sites of archaeological potential were found during the first phase of test excavations. Crosserdree 1 in Field 11 comprised a linear ditch associated with enclosure WM013-083 (previously surveyed by Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics under licence no. 17R0052). Crosserdree 2 in Field 15 comprised a small group of pits/post-holes (possible habitation area). Reynella 1 in Field 18 was defined by four areas of archaeology (Areas A–D), comprising groups of charcoal-rich pits/post-holes/spreads and isolated charcoal-rich features. Ballygillin 1 in Field 35 comprised a series of linear ditches likely to represent field system ditches associated with enclosure WM013-095 (previously surveyed by Target Archaeological Geophysics under licence no. 18R0125), the focus of which was directly to the south. Williamstown (Rochford) 1 in Field 42 comprised a pit containing charcoal and burnt clay and an associated charcoal spread. Hiskinstown 1 in Field 46 comprised a series of charcoal-rich spreads from which a worked lithic (chert flake) and possible hammerstone were recovered. In addition, field drains and post-medieval boundary ditches were found at locations along the length of the scheme.

No additional sites of archaeological potential were found during the second phase of test excavations, but five townland boundaries were subject to survey and assessment through test excavation. Between Crosserdree and Balrath North a dry-stone wall was recorded, between Crosserdree and Reynella and between Reynella and Williamstown (Briscoe) an earthen bank and ditch was recorded, between Williamstown (Briscoe) and Ballygillin an earthen bank was recorded and between Ballygillin and Hiskinstown an earthen bank and dry-stone wall was recorded.

The six potential archaeological sites identified by the first phase of advance test excavations were recommended for full excavation.

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